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ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, PRESIDENT FAIL TO REACH CONSENSUS; PROTEST RALLIES PLANNED IN SEVERAL CITIES
Interfax, Russia
Feb 25 2013
Raffi Ovannissian, the leader of the Armenian opposition party
Heritage who came in second in the recent presidential elections,
announced the beginning of protest rallies across the country at a
rally in the center of Yerevan on Friday.
"At a meeting with Serzh Sargsyan [the incumbent president of Armenia,
who won the elections], I demanded that those who rigged the elections
be punished, but was refused. I proposed that new parliamentary
elections be called so as to form a new government, but was refused. I
said: If you are unwilling and don't have enough courage to recognize
the people's victory, don't blame me," Ovannisian told the rally
participants referring to his Thursday meeting with Sargsyan.
He announced protest rallies at three Armenian cities, i.e. Ashtarak,
Gyumri and Vanadzor on Saturday and at Freedom Square in the center
of Yerevan on Sunday.
"I am determined to defend our people's interests. Our struggle will
not wane. We are heading toward victory," Ovannisian said.
Meanwhile, the Yerevan city hall has declined a request submitted
by the Heritage party for rallies on Freedom Square in Yerevan on
February 23-25.
About 9,000 people accompanied by police marched along central streets
in Yerevan earlier on Friday. Before this, opposition activists held
a rally on Freedom Square.
Ovannisian earlier claimed victory in the presidential elections,
refusing to acknowledge the official outcome published by the Central
Elections Commission.
Interfax, Russia
Feb 25 2013
Raffi Ovannissian, the leader of the Armenian opposition party
Heritage who came in second in the recent presidential elections,
announced the beginning of protest rallies across the country at a
rally in the center of Yerevan on Friday.
"At a meeting with Serzh Sargsyan [the incumbent president of Armenia,
who won the elections], I demanded that those who rigged the elections
be punished, but was refused. I proposed that new parliamentary
elections be called so as to form a new government, but was refused. I
said: If you are unwilling and don't have enough courage to recognize
the people's victory, don't blame me," Ovannisian told the rally
participants referring to his Thursday meeting with Sargsyan.
He announced protest rallies at three Armenian cities, i.e. Ashtarak,
Gyumri and Vanadzor on Saturday and at Freedom Square in the center
of Yerevan on Sunday.
"I am determined to defend our people's interests. Our struggle will
not wane. We are heading toward victory," Ovannisian said.
Meanwhile, the Yerevan city hall has declined a request submitted
by the Heritage party for rallies on Freedom Square in Yerevan on
February 23-25.
About 9,000 people accompanied by police marched along central streets
in Yerevan earlier on Friday. Before this, opposition activists held
a rally on Freedom Square.
Ovannisian earlier claimed victory in the presidential elections,
refusing to acknowledge the official outcome published by the Central
Elections Commission.