Tweet
Global Insight
July 1, 2011
Armenian Opposition Continues Protests, Although Numbers Dwindle
BYLINE: Matt Clements
Some 4,000 people gathered in protest in Armenia's capital Yerevan
yesterday (30 June), calling for the removal of the current
government. The rally was organised by the opposition Armenian
National Congress (HAK), whose leader and former president Levon
Ter-Petrossian stated at the protest that if the government of
President Serzh Sargsyan did not begin dialogue before the start of
September, their only demand would be his removal. The protest is the
latest of a series of rallies organised by the Armenian opposition in
recent months, with early elections being a key demand of the
opposition. However, in response to the protests, Sargsyan's
government adopted a series of concessions, including the release of
the 10 remaining political prisoners in May and allowing opposition
rallies to be held in Yerevan's Liberty Square (seeArmenia: 1 June
2011:).
Significance:Although the protests have continued despite the
government concessions, the number of participants has dwindled, with
the last protests on 31 May gathering some 6,000 people, and rallies
in April gathering between 8,000 and 12,000 people. It therefore
appears that the momentum behind the protests is wearing out, with
initial calls for a North African-style popular revolution having not
been realised. The political opposition remains divided and has failed
to unite under a common banner. As such Sargsyan is set to continue in
a relatively stable position without the need to call any early
elections, having already compromised on less contentious issues such
as the release of political prisoners.
From: Baghdasarian
July 1, 2011
Armenian Opposition Continues Protests, Although Numbers Dwindle
BYLINE: Matt Clements
Some 4,000 people gathered in protest in Armenia's capital Yerevan
yesterday (30 June), calling for the removal of the current
government. The rally was organised by the opposition Armenian
National Congress (HAK), whose leader and former president Levon
Ter-Petrossian stated at the protest that if the government of
President Serzh Sargsyan did not begin dialogue before the start of
September, their only demand would be his removal. The protest is the
latest of a series of rallies organised by the Armenian opposition in
recent months, with early elections being a key demand of the
opposition. However, in response to the protests, Sargsyan's
government adopted a series of concessions, including the release of
the 10 remaining political prisoners in May and allowing opposition
rallies to be held in Yerevan's Liberty Square (seeArmenia: 1 June
2011:).
Significance:Although the protests have continued despite the
government concessions, the number of participants has dwindled, with
the last protests on 31 May gathering some 6,000 people, and rallies
in April gathering between 8,000 and 12,000 people. It therefore
appears that the momentum behind the protests is wearing out, with
initial calls for a North African-style popular revolution having not
been realised. The political opposition remains divided and has failed
to unite under a common banner. As such Sargsyan is set to continue in
a relatively stable position without the need to call any early
elections, having already compromised on less contentious issues such
as the release of political prisoners.
From: Baghdasarian