Heritage party leader begins ‘revolution of greetings’
22.02.2013,
21:11
Opposition Heritage Party leader, Raffi Hovannisian, told thousands of his supporters at Liberty Square today that he was starting a "revolution of greetings" and protest demonstrations across the country.
YEREVAN, February 22. /ARKA/. Opposition Heritage Party leader, Raffi Hovannisian, told thousands of his supporters at Liberty Square today that he was starting a "revolution of greetings" and protest demonstrations across the country.
Hovannisian, who came in second in the February 18 presidential election, refused to recognize the official results, which gave the victory to the incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan. He rallied his supporters for two days at Liberty square demanding that Sargsyan ‘hand the power to the people of Armenia.’
Hovannisian told the crowd today that he and his supporters will travel tomorrow to Ashtarak, Vanadzor, and Gyumri for rallies and on Sunday they will reconvene at Liberty Square in Yerevan.
He called on Yerevan mayor to take note of ‘our intention to hold a demonstration on Sunday at Liberty Square’, which he said is nobody’s property, and on Sunday the Armenian people will gather there again.
Hovannisian said he was going to hold demonstrations in all the cities and villages across the country, and stressed the need of unity.
"All Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Diaspora, and Armenia must become united, “ he said, adding that the demonstrations would be peaceful, and he will not allow anyone to raise hands on people. He said any law-enforcement officer, who will send troops against the people, "will be brought to account by the people."
At this moment Hovannisian and several hundreds of his supporters began marching along the central streets of Yerevan. He urged the protesters to remain calm and not to occupy the roadway.
According to preliminary data, Serzh Sargsyan was reelected president garnering 58.64% of the vote, while Raffi Hovannisian received 36.74%. M.M. -0-
