Three non-coalition forces of the Armenian Parliament - Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia and Heritage - held a joint rally in Hrazdan on Friday.
Naira Zohrabyan, Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party Faction, touched on the constitutional reforms initiated by the authorities. She said that the authorities' arguments in favor of the reforms do not hold up against criticism. "Ask your citizens if they leave the country because of the flaws in the Constitution? Does the current Constitution hinder free and fair elections? Stop talking to buncombe! The problem of the country is the incumbent power, which is now solving one problem by means of reforms - the problem of retention of power", said Zohrabyan.
She urged the citizens to attend the Oct 10 rally in Liberty Square and to launch radical changes. "It is necessary to put an end to the lawlessness and tyranny of the governors", Zohrabyan said hinting at the owner of the Gold Market Vagharsh Abrahamyan and re-appointed Governor of Syunik Surik Khachatryan (a.k.a Liska).
Heritage Party representative Armen Martirosyan also made a speech. Some clamorous women were trying to disturb and interrupt Martirosyan, and the oppositionist qualified their behavior as provocation. "Yesterday's rally in Abovyan makes the authorities resort to cheap provocations. I urge you not to insult the provokers and not to respond to their senseless attacks. It is not their fault. It is the fault of the authorities who have sent them here", he said.
For his part, Armenian National Congress Spokesman Arman Musinyan said that by initiating the constitutional reforms, Serzh Sargsyan is trying to solve two problems - retention of power and retention of money. "Therefore, the regime has initiated the reforms. This process is nothing but an attempt to ensure life-term power for Serzh Sargsyan. But our joint efforts and our consolidation will defeat the authorities. Serzh Sargsyan will lose the fight. He will have no options except stepping down the political arena", he said.