Protest movement in Armenia not dying down, opposition leader says

Panorama
Armenia –

Opposition leader and deputy parliament speaker Iskhan Saghatcelyan on Friday dismissed claims that the protest movement aimed at forcing Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet to resign is dying down.

“The Resistance Movement cannot die down under any circumstances, because the suspension or fading of the movement would mean a defeat for the Armenian people,” Saghatcelyan, who represents the Hayastan bloc, told a briefing in Yerevan’s France Square on Friday.

He highlighted that daily marches and rallies held as part of the civil disobedience campaign launched on 2 May attracted some 50,000 people.

“It’s a purely Armenian and nationwide movement and will definitely succeed,” the lawmaker said.

As one of its key achievements, he stressed that the “whole world now knows that Armenians are not going to concede defeat and are not ready for new concessions [to Azerbaijan].”

Also, he said talks are underway between the opposition and various public and political forces to give fresh impetus to the protest movement.

“There can be no retreat in any case. All our discussions focus on how to expand the movement, fix the mistakes and move forward with greater vigor. We believe that what we have done so far has been very effective, but a new strategy is needed now. Thus, changes are possible in our steps,” Saghatcelyan said.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS