YEREVAN. – February 18 must be declared a day of freedom, Armenian politician Paruyr Hayrikyan said.

Hayrikyan, who is the chairman of the opposition National Self-Determination Union (NSU), recalled that on February 18, 1921 “Armenians rebelled against communist dictatorship and liberated Yerevan”.

“Although the success did not last long, its historic and moral value cannot be underestimated. The bolsheviks stopped violence for short period of time, but the Armenian people proved the freedom is an absolute value,” he said during a press conference on Friday.

The politician said his supporters are going to mark the Freedom Day. The rally in Liberty Square and march along the streets in Yerevan are “to honor memory of freedom-loving ancestors and to mark the Freedom Day”, Hayrikyan added.

In turn, Armenian communists believe Hayrikyan “is trying to distort history by his ridiculous statements”.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am