Constitution: Armenia’s opposition takes to Yerevan’s streets, Ruben Rubinyan denounces “Kaluga mercenaries”
- Published
- Place
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
The Armenian opposition forces that announced their “national consolidation” on 4 November held their first information actions in several districts of Yerevan on Sunday 8 November, including in the metro. Announced by Narek Karapetyan, head of the Strong Armenia parliamentary group, the actions involve approaching passers-by with leaflets, Armenian flags and ballots from the independence referendum. Participants say they want to “say yes to independence again” and reject a Constitution they describe as imposed by Ilham Aliyev. National Assembly Speaker Ruben Rubinyan replied on Facebook that Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan remained “the main enemies of independence” and that their political heirs were working for “their masters in Kaluga”, the Russian city where Samvel Karapetyan started his business.
Analysis
The opposition front is widening: Arman Tatoyan’s Wings of Unity party, Aram Sargsyan’s Democratic Party and Paruyr Hayrikyan’s Union for National Self-Determination have joined, according to Strong Armenia. The choice of direct contact over a large rally comes while Samvel Karapetyan is in pre-trial detention. The authorities, for their part, are answering on the ground of independence and Russian influence, which already frames the debate on the new Constitution.
Possible consequences
The government is due to present its draft new Constitution by the end of the year; the opposition says other forms of action will follow.
