YEREVAN. – What occurred on Tuesday in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan is an incident that is in line with the context of the country’s previous presidential elections, and it was not a secret for anyone that there may have been a clash between the society and the police. Opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) member, People’s Power initiative founder Zoya Tadevosyan stated this during a press conference on Friday. 

“There happened what we all expected. They banned entry to Baghramyan [Avenue, where the Presidential Residence is located], [and] beat the people, which they had no right to [do],” she said.    

Reflecting on the “swearing-in ceremony” which opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian—who was 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—had conducted at Liberty Square, the ANC member noted that the people had no need to take an oath to be a law-abiding citizen.

“Over the course of these 2.5 months, Raffi Hovannisian did not establish any connection with the people. He did not present his agenda to the people. He functioned independently, on his own, on the spur of the moment; [and] he did just that on [Tuesday,] April 9,” Tadevosyan noted.    

She said the ANC criticizes Hovannisian because he left the people with the police nearby Baghramyan Avenue and, together with the police chief, went to light candles at the Armenian Genocide Memorial. As per Tadevosyan, he should have remained near Baghramyan Avenue, looked after the people, and taken them away to avoid clashes.        

As for Raffi Hovannisian’s trip to Moscow, Zoya Tadevosyan said the ex-presidential candidate had initially stated that President Serzh Sargsyan would have to come to Liberty Square and apologize; but this did not happen. Instead, Hovannisian went to Sargsyan. Next, Heritage’s leader had stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin likewise would have to come and apologize; but he did not come, either, and again Hovannisian went, instead.     

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/Armenian News-NEWS.am