ARMENIAN MPS TIGHTEN LAW ON RALLIES

Reuters
March 17 2008
UK

YEREVAN, March 17 (Reuters) – Armenia’s parliament imposed restrictions
on holding rallies on Monday, fearing clashes between police and the
opposition after a state of emergency expires on Friday.

President Robert Kocharyan declared the 20-day emergency rule in the
capital Yerevan on March 1 following mass protests against a Feb. 19
presidential election, which the opposition says was rigged. Eight
people were killed and more than 100 were injured in the clashes
between police and protesters.

"The events in Yerevan on March 1 demonstrated that the existing law
(on rallies) has a number of drawbacks which need to be addressed.

This is prompted by the lesson we learnt," deputy Rafik Petrosyan
told parliament.

Shortly before midnight on Monday, an emergency session of parliament
voted 90-6 to pass the two readings of the law.

One of the amendments allows the authorities to ban a rally "if they
receive trustworthy police or security service reports that such
an action may threaten national security, public order or violate
citizens’ constitutional rights".

The opposition, led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan who was
defeated in last month’s election, said it would defend its right to
hold rallies despite the restrictions. Serzh Sarksyan, prime minister
and Kocharyan’s ally, won the election.

"This is evident this (law) is directed against us. We will continue
our struggle by all lawful means," said Ter-Petrosyan’s spokesman Arman
Musinyan. "If they don’t allow a rally now, it will happen tomorrow,
if not — then a day after tomorrow."

"They cannot keep issuing refusals for a whole year."

Last week Kocharyan lifted some media restrictions imposed after the
post-election protests.

The new law on rallies should come into force on the 10th day after
its publication in Armenia’s official gazette. (Reporting by Hasmik
Lazarian; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Elizabeth Piper)