RPA member says ANC non-stop rallies a failure

PanARMENIAN.Net - A member of ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) believes Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc’s non-stop rallies to have been a failure.“The small number of ANC supporters present at round-the-clock protest actions proves the rallies to have been a failure,” Lernik Aleksanyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

ANC representative, Zoya Tadevosyan, however, objected to the view, accusing Armenian authorities of closing down the roads to prevent Congress supporters from attending rallies. “It's the authorities who've suffered a failure,” she said.

RPA member Gagik Melikyan, refuted the statement above, noting that were actual abilities of ANC comparable comparable to those claimed, Congress would have no problem to gather a 2 thous-people rally among 1 million population of Yerevan.

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.

At September 30 rally, ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrossian announced 7-day-long round-the-clock protest actions with supporters putting up tents at Liberty Square. On October 8 the Congress terminated non-stop rallies, announcing immediate resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan as the main point of the resolution adopted.

Next ANC rally is scheduled for October 28, with the Congress to decide on their further steps.