Alek Yenigomshyan: We made a tactical retreat (video)
The mobilization planned by the Founding Parliament opposition movement on April 24 did not take place, Alek Yenigomshyan, the temporary coordinator of the group, said today. He cites objective and subjective reasons for it. “One of the reasons is the arrest of our friends and the atmosphere of fear in the country. We are also guilty as we were unable to avert the arrest. We have made a tactical retreat,” Mr Yenigomshyan told reporters. However, the coordinator of the radical opposition group says they have not stopped protests and rallies. By the way, the city authorities have banned the group from holding rallies in the centre of the Armenian capital until May 10. The group has notified the Municipality of its intention to rally supporters at Liberty Square after May 10 but has not received an answer yet. “We are going to hold a series of protests in support of our jailed friends and even if they fail to sanction the rallies we shall continue to take steps within the law,” said Mr Yenigomshyan. Senior members of Founding Parliament – Zhirayr Sefilyan, Pavel Manukyan, Garegik Chukaszyan, Varuzhan Avetisyan and Gevorg Safaryan -were arrested on April 7 on suspicion of planning to provoke ‘mass disturbances’ at the sites of genocide centenary commemorations on April 24. All were taken into two-month preliminary custody. Another Founding Parliament activist, Aram Hakobyan, was charged with keeping arms and ammunition, but was released on bail.
