YEREVAN. - During the opposition rally held in Yerevan leader of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) Levon Ter-Petrosyan said that he was not pleased with growing international pressure on Armenia.

In particular Ter-Petrosyan mentioned three cases of pressure on Armenia.

The first case is suspension of aiding the Millennium Challenges Corporation (MCC) projects in Armenia. Allocation of funds under this program was possible only in case of successful promotion of democratic reforms.

Second case is the U.S. State Department’s report in which Armenia was ranked among the countries where human rights are consistently violated.

Third case, according to Ter-Petrosyan, is PACE co-rapporteurs’ assertion that unsolved problems regarding democracy can lead Armenia to social upheaval.

Levon Ter-Petrosian considers it is not coincidence that the mentioned cases of pressure appeared simultaneously. He stressed the ANC has been drawing attention to these facts so far. He deems by pressing Armenian authorities the West wants to achieve a solution to geopolitical problems in the region and contribute to strengthening democracy. 

Leader of the ANC said that the West focused attention on state of democracy “in a number of states with dictatorship” after the events in the Arab world. Ter-Petrosyan said he is aggrieved with increasing pressure on Armenia.

“Once a democratic state, Armenia should not face a situation when any third-rate Western official dares to give us a lecture,” he added.