Thousands of Armenian opposition supporters defied authorities Sunday to rally on the first anniversary of the country's deadliest political clashes since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union.
More than 10,000 people gathered for the rally in central Yerevan, which the authorities had refused to sanction, carrying placards reading "Free Political Prisoners" and "For Early Elections", an AFP correspondent reported. Opposition leader and former president Levon Ter-Petrosian told the crowd the opposition would fight through "constitutional means" for early elections.
"After a year, despite total pressure from the authorities, the people are instead stronger and ready to continue the struggle," he said. After his speech, Ter-Petrosian called on supporters to peacefully march to the area near the French embassy in Yerevan where 10 people, including two policemen, were killed during the clashes. He said another anti-government rally would be held on May 1. The clashes broke out last March 1 when police moved to disperse thousands of Ter-Petrosian supporters who had rallied for 11 days to denounce President Serzh Sarkisian's win in a February election. Ter-Petrosian had finished second in the vote. Dozens more were injured in the clashes, many from gunshot wounds.
Protesters called Sunday for the release of dozens of people jailed following the unrest, including a former foreign minister and several other senior opposition leaders who are still on trial. "I came here today because I want justice," said one of the protesters, 57-year-old Siran.
"I want those responsible for this tragic event and for the deaths of these 10 people to be punished. The government refuses to punish them, so it should go," she said.
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