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Opposition-government standoff gaining momentum in Armenia

30 March 2015 16:28 (UTC+04:00)
Opposition-government standoff gaining momentum in Armenia

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

An opposition rally during the weekend in Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri staged various provocative actions triggered by the government forces, claimed the organizers of the gathering.

The most intriguing event at the protest march was a deliberate stabbing attack on Hrach Mirzoyan, an activist of the Founding Parliament group, the hardline opposition movement in Armenia.

The Founding Parliament, organizer of the rally, is known as an initiator of the "Centenary Without the Regime" campaign and controversially plans to launch an anti-government push on April 24 when Armenians will commemorate the centennial of the so-called "Armenian genocide".

The rally in Gyumri on March 28 once more showed the brutal and dirty repressive side of the regime when it unleashed its forces against its people.

Member of the movement, Varujan Avetisyan said a group of people threw stones at their cars while they were on their way from Gyumri back to Yerevan. He believes that the authorities have a hand in the attacks against protesters.

The movement led by Lebanese-born Armenian, Jirair Sefilyan stated that the anti-government actions are not intended to overshadow the commemoration events but pursue the deposition of the incumbent regime.

Sefilyan promised to launch nonstop rallies in Yerevan in view of achieving the goals - to eliminate the rulers and to break ground for a new life in Armenia.

Representatives of the parliamentary opposition parties said, however, they would not join the nonstop protests planned by the Founding Parliament.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation criticized the hardline opposition movement for the scheduled date of its campaign as it coincides with the commemoration of the so-called "genocide".

Addressing supporters at the Gyumri rally, Sefilyan, in turn, once again criticized the mainstream opposition forces, calling them the followers of the current regime.

Although many Armenians believe that now is not the time to stage a regime change, the Founding Parliament leaders overtly announce that it is their deliberate choice to play hard ball against the rulers, namely on April 24.

The opposition group's consecutive rallies held in Yerevan and other parts of the Armenia target to attract large crowds to consolidate its struggle against the authorities.

Sefilyan has recently revealed his plan to create a civil army in Armenia in an effort to provide the needed ground ahead of a regime's possible overthrow.

Earlier, the Founding Parliament cancelled the march of vehicles to Gyumri on March 7 due to a last-minute decision to return to Yerevan after the government appeared set to engage in provocation and violence.

The commemoration of the centennial of the "Armenian genocide" myth will apparently take a backsit next month if the nationwide rally succeeds to dethrone President Serzh Sargsyan along with his disciples. Otherwise, Armenia will experience its hardest ever political persecution to date.

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Follow Mushvig Mehdiyev on Twitter: @Mushviggo

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