Opposition protesting parallel 8th EPC Summit

ArmInfo. Opposition representatives held a protest parallel the 8th European Political Community Summit.

Starting from Mergelyan Park, they marched with banners and flags of  Armenia and Artsakh to the K.  Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex  building, where the Summit opening ceremony is taking place.

As Artur Khachtaryan, an MP from the Armenia faction, noted, the  purpose of the protest is to urge high- ranking European officials  not to turn a blind eye to the regression of democracy in Armenia,  the establishment of an already blatant tyranny, dozens of political  prisoners, and criminal cases based on illogical accusations.  Furthermore, the protesters intend to raise the issue of the Artsakh  people's right to a collective and safe return to their homeland.

"And if Europe truly wants to be Armenia's friend, it cannot turn a  blind eye to these crimes. The people of Artsakh have been subjected  to ethnic cleansing and genocide by Azerbaijan. We have prisoners in  Baku, and efforts must be made to ensure their speedy return," the MP  said.

Commenting on the online statement by the Azerbaijani president at  the opening of the Summit, Khachatryan noted that the state had once  again demonstrated its anti-Armenian hostile stance, and Aliyev had  used this platform to distort historical reality.

The protesters' final destination was the square outside the K.  Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex.  They chanted slogans such as  "No to Nikol's Terror!", "Nikol is a Traitor!", "Freedom for the  Church!", "Freedom for political prisoners!", "Artsakh is Armenia!",  and "Freedom for Armenian Prisoners!" 

It should be noted that Ilham Aliyev, in his video address at the 8th  European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, accused the European  Parliament of bias and boasted about the de-Armenization of Artsakh.

Specifically, he criticized the European Parliament's adoption of a  resolution on April 30, which, among other things, demands the  immediate release of all Armenian prisoners held in Baku. In this  regard, Aliyev noted that on April 1, his country decided to suspend  cooperation with the European Parliament, the activities of the  European Union-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, and  its work at Euronest. In conclusion, he reiterated his support for  the peace process with Armenia.