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ARMENIAN STATE OF EMERGENCY LIFTED
by Dragana IgnjatoviÄ
Global Insight
March 24, 2008
On Thursday (20 March) the Armenian government lifted the state of
emergency imposed on 1 March following post-election clashes between
police and opposition supporters alleging fraud in the 19 February
presidential elections, which left eight people dead. Around 1,000
opposition supporters attended a protest in the capital, Yerevan,
on 21 March following the lifting of the state of emergency, which
also banned public gatherings.
Significance:Although the post-election violence has since calmed down
and the ruling elite has regained its grip on power, serious challenges
remain for the Armenian government. The deep division between the
opposition and government could create serious deadlock in Armenia's
next parliament, halting vital socioeconomic reforms. A step in the
right direction would be the release of the 106 opposition protestors
arrested and detained following the 1 March violence. However,
this is unlikely to happen since the government is reluctant to
take steps which would allow the dispersed and defeated opposition
to regroup. Furthermore, the authorities would do well launch an
investigation into the use of force which left eight people dead in
the protests in order to re-assure the West of their commitment to
democratic values. The situation in Armenia is likely to remain stable
due to a new law passed last week, which gives authorities the right
to ban demonstrations posing a threat to public order (see Armenia:
18 March 2008:). However, the challenges facing the coalition of
President-elect Serzh Sargsyan will only continue to mount after his
9 April inauguration unless a genuine move is made to engage with the
country's opposition, in order to assure the international community
of Armenia's determination to embrace democratic values.
--Boundary_(ID_6ZsuKJF9SDIk3a9sVOVfwQ)--
by Dragana IgnjatoviÄ
Global Insight
March 24, 2008
On Thursday (20 March) the Armenian government lifted the state of
emergency imposed on 1 March following post-election clashes between
police and opposition supporters alleging fraud in the 19 February
presidential elections, which left eight people dead. Around 1,000
opposition supporters attended a protest in the capital, Yerevan,
on 21 March following the lifting of the state of emergency, which
also banned public gatherings.
Significance:Although the post-election violence has since calmed down
and the ruling elite has regained its grip on power, serious challenges
remain for the Armenian government. The deep division between the
opposition and government could create serious deadlock in Armenia's
next parliament, halting vital socioeconomic reforms. A step in the
right direction would be the release of the 106 opposition protestors
arrested and detained following the 1 March violence. However,
this is unlikely to happen since the government is reluctant to
take steps which would allow the dispersed and defeated opposition
to regroup. Furthermore, the authorities would do well launch an
investigation into the use of force which left eight people dead in
the protests in order to re-assure the West of their commitment to
democratic values. The situation in Armenia is likely to remain stable
due to a new law passed last week, which gives authorities the right
to ban demonstrations posing a threat to public order (see Armenia:
18 March 2008:). However, the challenges facing the coalition of
President-elect Serzh Sargsyan will only continue to mount after his
9 April inauguration unless a genuine move is made to engage with the
country's opposition, in order to assure the international community
of Armenia's determination to embrace democratic values.
--Boundary_(ID_6ZsuKJF9SDIk3a9sVOVfwQ)--