LEVON ZURABIAN: BARBARIC ACTIONS OF POLICE AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS ARE MANIFESTATION OF AUTHORITIES’ FEAR

Noyan Tapan

Se p 11, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN."The ruling regime does not
meet the people half-way, quite the opposite, it is trying to use
every opportunity to restrict citizens’ freedoms and strengthen the
dictatorship," coordinator of the center of the Armenian National
Congress (ANC) Levon Zurabian said at the September 11 press
conference. In his words, the illegal barbaric actions of police
against participants of peaceful protests are continuing, which is
a manifestation of the fear and panic of the authorities.

A statement of the ANC was read at the press conference. According
to the statement, the authorities are trying to use the fact that
the international community’s attention has shifted from the Armenian
problems to the events related to the Russian-Georgian war. "We will
be inflexible in our struggle for restoration of the rights of the
people. We must oppose our people’s love of freedom to the convulsions
of the regime," is said in the statement whose authors invite all
Armenian citizens to attend the September 15 meeting of the opposition.

L. Zuraian informed those present that the process of forming the
ANC’s structures is underway, ANC offices have been opened in all
the districts of Yerevan and in marzes. As for the number of those
who want to join the ANC, Zurabian said that their number makes tens
of thousands. A database with the names of persons who want to join
the Congress has been created at ANC.