FIRST AUTHORIZED RALLY AFTER MARCH 1 HELD IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The first rally authorized by the
authorities was held in Yerevan after the March 1 events on April
19. The supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosian, the first Presodent of
the Republic of Armenia, and the representatives of the political
non-governmental organizations supporting him this time gathered in the
circular square of the main children’s park of Yerevan (after Kirov)
and the territory in its vicinity. As Vardan Grigorian, the Deputy
Chairman of the "Democratic Way" party, mentioned in his speech, it is
characteristic that the municipality has allowed to hold the regular
rally of the opposition in one of the places of the March 1 tragic
events. That, according to him, proves the thought expressed by Levon
Ter-Petrosian recently, according to which nothing ends with April 9
(the day of the inauguration of the President Serge Sargsian – NT),
on the contrary, it starts.

Reminding and summarizing the events of March 1 and the days after,
Hrachia Sargsian, a member of the Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) party
administration, who was conducting the rally, stated that Armenia
had 10 victims, over 130 political prisoners, over 500 people, who
were brought to police stations, 200-300 people, who were beaten and
subjected to acts of violence during the past 50 days. "All this,
however, cannot weaken the wave the Armenian people is feeling,"
H. Sargsian mentioned.

Suren Sureniants, a member of the political board of the Hanrapetutiun
(Republic) party, as well delivered a speech, the precautionary
measure towards whom was subtituded for a signature on not leaving the
country. He stated that he and his detained friends are political
prisoners, the spirit of whom continues to be high due to the
people. The current was switched off in the square during his speech
and those standing on the platform were not able to continue their
speeches for about half an hour. Instead, thousands of people gathered
there started to cry "Levon President", "Sergik, go away, scoundrel",
"Struggle, struggle up to the end", and "Freedom."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress