YEREVAN. – The rally of New Armenia Public Salvation Front, which opposes the proposed constitutional amendments in the country, got underwaySunday evening at Liberty Square, in downtown capital city Yerevan.

The Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter on location informed that there are a large number of police officers at the square.

Before the start of the rally, the Deputy Police Chief of Yerevan, Valeri Osipyan, urged opposition Heritage Party Chairman and former FM Raffi Hovannisian, who is also board member of the New Armenia front, not to incite the people toward unrest. Otherwise, the police will have to restore public order.

The referendum on Armenia’s constitutional amendments was conducted on Sunday.

Following the independence of Armenia in 1991, the Constitution was adopted on July 5, 1995, which is marked as Constitution Day.

The Constitution was amended in 2005, and the country switched from a presidential to a semi-presidential system of governance.

And pursuant to the currently proposed amendments, the country will make a transition from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary system of governance, and conduct completely proportional parliamentary elections.

The opponents of these amendments, however, consider them to be primarily the authorities’ attempt to hang on to power.