Armenian people must rise in protest, ANC member says

PanARMENIAN.Net - The opposition-coalition dialogue has been moved to the background to never be used as a way to resolve current issues in Armenia, according to Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc coordinator.

As Levon Zurabyan told a news conference in Yerevan, the authorities’ attitude proves no further concessions will be made, nor is the release of ANC supporter Tigran Arakelyan to be expected.

“There’s nothing left for people but to rise in protest, forcing the authorities into concessions. No time’s left to wait for the dialogue to solve the problems,” Zurabyan stressed.

Representatives of the ruling coalition have held meetings since July 18, the two main issues on the agenda being conduction of extraordinary election (on ANC demand) and development of canons of political competition (as suggested by the authorities).

Problems emerged when police detained 7 young ANC activists. According to the ANC, on August 9 police officers used violence against ANC activists Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan. Upon arrival to the site, activists Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kirimajyan tried to settle the dispute but were beaten as well, the ANC said. All above-mentioned were taken to a police station.

Currently, Tigran Arakelyan is kept in custody. The others were released.

On August 26, the Congress announced that it suspends the dialogue and believes Arakelyan to be a political prisoner.

As ANC leader stated at recent rally in Yerevan, refusal to release Arakelyan within the next few days will prove the incident between the police and opposition supporter to be a put-up job. According to Levon Ter-Petrossian, unless the detainee is released, ANC is ready to mobilize its supporters to force ruling authorities into conducting to snap elections.