Hovannisian defies police warning, calls for resignations

NEWS | 09.04.13 | 10:53

Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian, who is planning to `assume
obligations’ that he says were entrusted to him in the February 18
presidential election, has defied warnings from police that described
his protests as `increasingly illegal’ ahead of today’s `Inauguration’
rally.

In a statement on Monday the Armenian police warned that they will use
force against Hovannisian and his supporters if the latter march
towards the presidential palace in Yerevan during President Serzh
Sargsyan’s inauguration planned for April 9.

The police also appeared to threaten to detain Hovannisian if he
attempts to assume power after declaring himself Armenia’s president
in Yerevan’s Liberty Square.

In a statement released today Hovannisian described the police
statement as `anti-constitutional’ and in turn demanded that President
Sargsyan and his subordinates, heads of law-enforcement bodies, step
down.

`If the rallies organized by me, as you say, are `unlawful’ and
contain `tendencies towards resorting to actions described in the
penal code’… then at noon today come to Liberty Square and arrest me,’
said Hovannisian. `I, indeed, am going to assume the obligations
entrusted to me on February 18 by the Armenian people.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress