Opposition rally to kick off in Yerevan in several minutes

 May 31, 2011 - 19:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - A rally of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) will kick off in Yerevan in several minutes.

A PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from the scene that several hundred people have already gathered at Liberty Square, which will host the May 31 rally. People continue arriving at the rally site. The rally will start at 07:00pm local time.

PanARMENIAN.Net reported earlier that Liberty Square of Yerevan is ready to host the ANC. The temporary scene and amphitheater set for the May 28 concert dedicated to the Republic’s Day have been removed.

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

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.