Rally in Yerevan: March 1 events, gas, pensions, “call to arms”

March 1, 2014 – 18:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Yerevan’s Liberty Square hosted a rally of Armenian
National Congress (ANC) and Armenian People’s Party dedicated to
tragic events of March 1, 2008 resulting in the deaths of 10 during
anti-government clashes.

“All the victims died trying to protect their right for peace,
dignity, country-building,” ANC member Aram Manukyan said at the onset
of the rally.

He next read out the names of the ten victims, followed by a minute of silence.

Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian and his spouse are among those
attending the rally, Panorama.am reported.

The rally participants further collected signatures calling to
liberate political prisoners. Protest against recent governmental
policies, including gas price hike and mandatory cumulative pension
was voiced, with urges to rise against the leadership.

>From February 20, 2008, the Armenian opposition led by first president
Levon Ter-Petrossian, who ran for presidency in 2008, but was not
elected, held rallies in the central part of Yerevan, protesting
against the election results.

The protest actions resulted in unrest and clashes between the police
and rally participants on March 1-2. According to the Office of RA
Prosecutor General, around 200 people were injured, 10 people were
killed, and over 100 people were arrested.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress