Levon Ter-Petrosyan, leader of the Armenian National Congress former president of Armenia, announced three demands at a mass protest on March 17.
He said that the situation is tense and needs an urgent resolution. The authorities must abandon their criminal policy and are unable to cope with the challenges. The authorities must release all political prisoners, provide freedom of protests at the Freedom Square and form an independent commission to investigate the death of 9 civilians caused by police actions against a peaceful protest on March 1, 2008. The demands are to be fulfilled by the next rally on April 8, Ter-Petrosyan said.
Coordinator of the ANG Levon Zurabyan urged the protesters to fight for their right for the Freedom Square, which has been the symbol of freedom and democracy for 20 years. He expressed hope that the police will concede at the negotiations.
The protests were followed by a march to the square. Zurabyan and the Police Chief of Yerevan Nazaryan held talks. The police decided to give way to the square. People started entering the square at 18.00 (Moscow time), mainly from the Tumanyan Street.
Gagik Jangiryan, a former military prosecutor, and leader of the socio-democratic party Gnchak (Bell) were also at Freedom Square.
Opposition leaders started speeches at 19.30 (Moscow time). The meeting started at Matenadaran.
Chairman of the Armenian National Movement, part of the ANG, Aram Manukyan urged people to trust in Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s pragmatism. He said that, most importantly, the protest must be held without violations of the law.
Zurabyan compared the protests in 2008 with the Prague Spring. He said that reclaiming the Freedom Square demonstrates the rightfulness of non-violent measures.
An opposition activist Arutyun Urutyan thanked everyone who fought for the liberation and expressed devotion to continue the fight for democracy and justful power. Urutyan said that a political prisoner Roman Mnatsakanyan was released.
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
