YEREVAN. – The Armenian National Assembly (NA) majority—that is, the ruling Republican Party and their coalition partners Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Party NA Factions—on Monday thwarted the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) NA Faction’s motion to set up an ad hoc committee to examine the events that occurred on March 1, 2008. 

The respective motion did not pass as a result of 46 votes for, 66 against, and one abstention.   

Prior to the voting, the four non-ruling-coalition parliamentary forces—the ANC, Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Heritage—had announced their support for the motion.

As a result of the clashes between the Armenian authorities and the opposition, eight demonstrators and two law enforcers were killed on March 1, 2008 in capital city Yerevan. But no one has yet been held accountable for the deaths.