GAVAR. – Prior to his assembly on Saturday in Gavar city, which is the regional center of Armenia’s Gegharkunik Region, opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian—who is declared runner-up to the winner, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential election that was conducted on February 18, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote—was approached by a police officer who stated that Hovannisian’s rally is not sanctioned, and therefore its organizers and participants may be held accountable.    

In his turn, Hovannisian stated to the officer of the law that the people have the right to assembly.  

“No. I declare that the rally was not sanctioned,” the police officer maintained. In response, Heritage’s vice-chairman Ruben Hakobyan stated as follows:

“Learn the laws, and you will see that the people do have the right to assembly, whereas the police have no right to disperse the people.”