YEREVAN. – The police did not allow Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party leader, 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 and who declared a hunger strike on March 10 at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square—to pitch a tent at the square.  

Heritage’s Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan, who was negotiating with the law enforcement, specifically said as follows to Aravot daily: 

“The government has made a ‘brilliant’ decision, according to which the asphalt is considered a great historical and cultural value, and the tent, which has neither nails nor sharp edges, could damage the asphalt.” 

Martirosyan also noted, however, that when the police come to understand that Hovannisian should be ensured with some conditions during his hunger strike, since the latter is a difficult process, they probably will permit him to pitch a tent.