YEREVAN. - Over 70 percent of Armenian citizens said “no”and less than 30 of them said “yes” at the constitutional referendum held in Armenia on 6 December 2015. Paruyr Hayrkiyan, leader of the Union for National Self-Determination (UNSD), told the aforementioned to the citizens celebrating the old New Year at Yerevan’s Liberty Square.

“The authorities are trying to force our people to live with falsifications, but our inquiries have shown that over 70 percent of Armenian citizens said “no”and less than 30 of them said “yes” at the constitutional referendum.  The same figures appeared as a result of the investigation by the Armenian National Congress (ANC), which is not a coincidence. We should do our best this year to revoke the referendum [results], we should act,” Hayrikyan said.

The people gathered at the Liberty Square demanded to release Armenian political prisoners, one of whom is Gevorg Safaryan, who was detained and later arrested in the night of December 31.

A Christmas tree march was held today from Yerevan’s Saryan Park to Liberty Square. 

The march participants expressed their protest over the actions of the police in the night from December 31 to January 1. The latter didn’t allow the members of the “New Armenia” movement to move round the Liberty Square with Christmas trees. The protestors are also expressed solidarity with activist Gevorg Safaryan, who was detained and later arrested as a result of clashes on that day.

A table was laid at the Liberty Square: people were drinking wine and celebrating the old New Year.