Liberty Square of Yerevan ready to host opposition rally

 May 31, 2011 - 15:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Liberty Square of Yerevan is ready to host a rally of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) on May 31, 07:00pm local time. The temporary scene and amphitheater set for the May 28 concert dedicated to the Republic’s Day are already removed.

It is noteworthy that former member of the Armenian parliament Sasun Mikaelyan and editor-in-chief of opposition Haykakan Zhamanak Nikol Pashinyan, who have been released under the recent amnesty, will participate in the rally for the first time since 2008.

Cars with ANC activists are now driving around the city and urge people through a loudspeaker to attend the rally.

The Armenian opposition held its previous rally on May 28. The Armenian authorities for the first time allowed the radical opposition to hold its rally in Liberty Square of Yerevan after the March 1-2, 2008, events. The number of rally participants reached 6,000 that was less compared to previous opposition rallies. The rally was followed by a procession through Yerevan streets. After it, opposition supporters returned to Liberty Square, demanding continuation of the protest action with a sit strike. However, leaders of the opposition Armenian National Congress managed to persuade people to leave the square, urging them to gather again on May 31. Leaving Liberty Square, many rally participants stated they will never join an opposition rally in future.

It is expected that the May 31 action will bring together greater number of participants, due to Pashinyan’s and Mikaelyan’s participation in it. However, opposition supporters state that the roads leading to Yerevan are again close; the Traffic Police make contrary statements.