ABOVYAN. – The master of Armenia is its people, stated opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian—who is declared runner-up to the winner, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential election on February 18, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote—, speaking Thursday with his supporters in Abovyan city of Kotayk Region, the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informs.   

At the beginning of the assembly, Hovannisian placed flowers to the memorial of the renowned writer, Khachatur Abovyan. 

“The question is not whether who will drink champagne and who will congratulate whom [on being elected president]. But the fact that all people of Armenia stood up and said: ‘No, we will no longer live in fear; we will live with respect, smile, [and] happiness.’ There will no longer be kings and little kings in Armenia. Our king is our people, our children, our future,” the opposition leader said.     

In his words, no foreign power shall turn a blind eye to the interests of the Armenian people.

“I met with the ambassadors of a variety of countries. We respect our allies very much. The Armenian-Russian friendship monument is behind me. Russia is our strategic ally, but it should respect the interests of our people, our choice, and then it will be worthy of all respect, just as Washington, Brussels, and Beijing [will be],” Raffi Hovannisian stressed.