YEREVAN. – There will be no Maidan on Saturday.  Members of the “Dem Em [I am against]” civic initiative, which opposes the new pension law in Armenia, stated the above-said at a press conference on Friday.

The activists noted that they will do their best so that Saturday’s rally and march in capital city Yerevan is held peacefully and lawfully, and they will demonstrate the Armenian body politic’s maximum unity and consolidation around one platform.

The initiative members also assured that a cooperation with the four non-ruling-coalition parliamentary forces and a possible dialogue with the government cannot politicize their movement, and they can never become a tool in the hands of the authorities.

“We already are a subject; we cannot become an object in someone’s hand,” initiative member Gevorg Gorgisyan said.
Reflecting on PM Tigran Sargsyan’s call for a dialogue, Gorgisyan stated that solely the removal of the pension law’s mandatory component can be discussed at the respective talks. 

To the query as to what their next course of action will be if, on March 28, the Constitutional Court considers the new pension law constitutional, “Dem Em” member Davit Manukyan responded:

“We will start a street struggle. There is nothing shameful when a person fights for his rights on the street.”
In the words of the “Dem Em” civic initiative members, the Yerevan Police and Municipality have been notified of Saturday’s rally and march, and the activists expect an acceptable approach by the police.

The new funded pension plan, which formally came into force in Armenia on January 1, 2014, is mandatory for those born in and after 1974 and voluntary for those born before 1974. In line with this plan, 5 to 10 percent of the monthly salaries in Armenia will be deducted and mandatorily be allocated to cumulative pension funds; the latter will be reimbursed as pensions once a person turns 63 years old.      

On January 24, however, the Constitutional Court decided to suspend the execution of some components in the Law on Funded Pensions pending the hearing—on March 28—of the petition submitted by the four non-ruling-coalition parliamentary forces—the Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Heritage—, and into the constitutionality of the several articles of the law.

Notwithstanding this, some employers already are deducting the mandatory pension payment from the salaries of their employees.