ArmInfo.On the morning of March 1, on behalf of RA President Armen Sargsyan, flowers were laid at the monument to Myasnikyan in the center of the Armenian capital in honor of the memory of the victims of the tragic events of March 1, 2008. This was reported by the press service of the Armenian leader.
In his address, the RA President noted that the events of March 1, 2008, which resulted in the victims of innocent people, are a pain for everyone. The political struggle, Armen Sargsyan noted, should not go beyond the framework of legitimacy, it should not lead to shocks, instability. Contradictions, as the President stressed, should not turn into an atmosphere of intolerance, mutual hatred, confrontation and disagreement. "I once again call on everyone to show unity, tolerance and solidarity, especially today, when unity is vital for our state and people," reads the address of the RA President.
It should be noted that at the end of February 2008, the second President of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, was leaving the presidential post, preparing to transfer powers to Serzh Sargsyan, who won the elections. Supporters of presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who disagreed with the voting results, including the current RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, organized protest actions in Yerevan. On the night of March 1, the participants in the thousands-strong rally were dispersed, ten people died during the riots, more than 250 were injured. The defendants in the criminal case in the March 1 case are ex-President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, former CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov, former Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan, ex-Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan. They are accused of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order in Armenia.
Today, on March 1, three actions will be held in Yerevan at once. At 15:00, the rally is organized by the Armenian National Congress party led by the first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan. In memory of the demonstrators and policemen who died on March 1, 2008, they intend to visit the church, where a memorial prayer service will be served, after which at 16:00 a procession will take place to the monument to Myasnikyan, where the main clashes took place, and then head to the Yerablur military pantheon, where an event will be held in memory of those killed in the Karabakh war. Meanwhile, the opposition of Armenia will hold a rally and march at 16:00 demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
And at 18:30 the meeting and procession will be organized by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, at which, in his words, the readiness of "our people to defend the civil, popular, democratic, constitutional order in Armenia and the people's power will be confirmed." He also noted that the rally participants will honor the memory of those killed on March 1, 2008. We also add that the network is actively circulating information that the heads of Armenian communities are actively gathering citizens for the upcoming rally tonight. Government officials are reportedly under serious pressure to participate in the evening procession. According to the same media, the heads of the communities promise from 10 to 20 thousand drams and a free bus to everyone who agrees to go to the upcoming demonstration. It was also reported that Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan also promised to bring about 1000 citizens to the rally. However, his press secretary Lusine Avanesyan, commenting on the information that the people of Artsakh will take part in the rally organized by Nikol Pashinyan, assured that this is absolute disinformation.