YEREVAN. – If Armenia’s authorities do not wish for the people and the state to separate from one another once and for all, they must resign, sculptor Vigen Avetis said during a press conference on Wednesday. 

In his words, no one believes in the current government any longer. 

“It needs to be understood that the phase of bribing voters is passé. The National Assembly should be dissolved, and as soon as possible, [and] a new parliament should be elected within one month. The authorities must come to understand that the people have begun demanding the protection of their rights,” the sculptor maintained. 

At the same time, however, he noted that President Serzh Sargsyan should not permit the paralyzing of state-run organizations. 

In addition, Vigen Avetis welcomed opposition Heritage Party leader, former FM Raffi Hovannisian’s—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—decision to go on a hunger strike. 

The sculptor also noted that new parliamentary elections will be announced in Armenia on April 9 or 10.  

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am