Yerevan city administration authorizes opposition rally in commemoration of March events

PanARMENIAN.Net - Basic political events of the day



On Feb 12, Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction held its 4th conference which brought together 588 party members and the whole political elite of Armenia, headed by the President Serzh Sargsyan. Leaders of parliamentary factions and delegations from China, Croatia, Russia and Ukraine were also invited.



Media rumors about the surprise expected at the conference of Prosperous Armenia's were not justified: the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan was not present.



No extra-parliamentary force attended the congress.



By a unanimous vote, Gagik Tsarukyan was re-appointed as the President of Prosperous Armenia Party.



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The sitting of judicial commission of inquiry set up to investigate so-called Case of Seven, regarding disorders of March 1-2, 2008 in Yerevan, was interrupted because of disrespect for court shown by the accused. After the squabble and exchange of insults the judge removed 7 political prisoners and postponed the sitting till Feb. 26, 2009 without including this span in the term of punishment.



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Yesterday Yerevan city administration authorized the opposition rally in commemoration of March 2008 events.



The administration offered Vazgen Sargsyan Stadium as the place of conducting the rally instead of the small center of Yerevan. Local authorities refused to sanction the march to Alexander Myasnikyan monument, the site of encounter with the police.



Regardless of the sanction, supporters of the Armenian National Congress headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan intend to conduct the rally in front of Matenadaran. The Congress calls on its supporters to avoid provoking the police on the day of the rally.



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At the governmental congress the executive body ratified the draft law on Amendments to Customs Codex of Armenia. According to Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the draft law is one of the legislative initiatives in anti-crisis program. The Prime-Minister is confident that the changes provided will serve as incentive in extending the market for Armenia-produced goods, as customs tax increase will provide relative privileges for Armenian manufacturers.