ARMENIAN OPPOSITION STARTS MASS RALLY

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Aug 1 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 1 August: Today at 1940 [1440 gmt] on the territory adjacent
to Matenadaran museum of ancient manuscripts, the supporters of
first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan started another rally
involving about 20,000 persons as estimated by an Arminfo news agency
correspondent.

As was said in the beginning of the rally, today’s speeches will
be short in order to enable the rally participants to listen more
to the leader of Armenian opposition Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Recently
released from custody, former deputy head of the national security
department of Armenia (back in 1990s), Col Gurgen Yegizaryan has said
that the Pan-National Movement may not be stopped with mass repression
carried out by the authorities. He underlined special significance of
"diverse rallies staged by the opposition because of which the regime
is obliged to set free some of the political prisoners".

The Centre for Pan-National Movement read out a statement during the
rally in which it said that it would support the candidacy of the son
of the leader of opposition party (Democratic Path), Manuk Gasparyan,
who passed away in January, Manvel Gasparyan, during the 7 September
election to the perfect of Yerevan’s Kanaker-Zeytun.

Hrant Baghratyan [former prime minister] criticized the economic
situation in Armenia.

Several minutes after the rally started, an unidentified person
appeared on the platform and tried to hamper the rally, but the
representatives of the opposition protecting the platform removed
him easily.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress