ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CLAIMS CURRENT LEADERSHIP SEIZED POWER BY FORCE IN 2008

Interfax
Feb 18 2009
Russia

According to members of the Armenian opposition a military coup was
conducted in the country on March 1, 2008.

"Considering that armed forces were used against the citizens of
Armenia on March 1 we believe that an armed coup was conducted
on that day," member of the opposition Armenian National Congress
Levon Zurabian said presenting a report of the Public Commission
Investigating the March 1, 2008 Developments on Wednesday.

The report demonstrated to the press was supported by video footage
filmed on March 1 and showing armed men in army uniforms as well as
army vehicles, such as armored personnel carriers.

"These facts prove that in crude violation of the constitution and
law the Armenian Defense Ministry was used against demonstrators who
protested against the fabrication of the February 19 elections. Former
president Robert Kocharian, former defense minister Mikael Arutyunian,
former chief of the General Staff Seyran Oranian and former chief
of Yerevan garrison Yury Khachaturov are responsible for that,"
the report says.

The opposition did not recognize the outcome of the February 19, 2008
presidential elections and organized large-scale protests which on
March 1 culminated in clashes between the opposition and the police
in which ten people died and over 250 were injured.