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Armenian Opposition Continues Protests, Although Numbers Dwindle

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  • Armenian Opposition Continues Protests, Although Numbers Dwindle

    Global Insight
    July 1, 2011


    Armenian Opposition Continues Protests, Although Numbers Dwindle

    BYLINE: Matt Clements


    Some 4,000 people gathered in protest in Armenia's capital Yerevan
    yesterday (30 June), calling for the removal of the current
    government. The rally was organised by the opposition Armenian
    National Congress (HAK), whose leader and former president Levon
    Ter-Petrossian stated at the protest that if the government of
    President Serzh Sargsyan did not begin dialogue before the start of
    September, their only demand would be his removal. The protest is the
    latest of a series of rallies organised by the Armenian opposition in
    recent months, with early elections being a key demand of the
    opposition. However, in response to the protests, Sargsyan's
    government adopted a series of concessions, including the release of
    the 10 remaining political prisoners in May and allowing opposition
    rallies to be held in Yerevan's Liberty Square (seeArmenia: 1 June
    2011:).

    Significance:Although the protests have continued despite the
    government concessions, the number of participants has dwindled, with
    the last protests on 31 May gathering some 6,000 people, and rallies
    in April gathering between 8,000 and 12,000 people. It therefore
    appears that the momentum behind the protests is wearing out, with
    initial calls for a North African-style popular revolution having not
    been realised. The political opposition remains divided and has failed
    to unite under a common banner. As such Sargsyan is set to continue in
    a relatively stable position without the need to call any early
    elections, having already compromised on less contentious issues such
    as the release of political prisoners.


    From: Baghdasarian
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