Government U-turn: choice of Tbilisi forced Armenian government to allow Ter-Petrosyan opposition movement to hold a congress in Yerevan

For quite some time now, any party, organisation or movement which is associated with the opposition is unable to hold indoor meetings, conferences etc due to apparent government ‘directive’ to the venues. Smart tactic by the opposition movement to arrange a venue for the congress in Tbilisi, after exhausting any possibilities in Armenian capital.

Only after news on Tbilisi venue became known, government made a U-turn and decided to offer its conference hall for the congress of Ter-Petrosyan opposition movement which will be held on 2 May. It is expected that Armenia’s first president and leader of the opposition movement Levon Ter-Petrosyan will make his first public speech there after the state of emergency.

Imagine how devastating for the government’s reputation would have been the situation when Armenian opposition is holding a congress in Georgian capital Tbilisi. Luckily, this time government realised the ridiculousness of its position and made this U-turn. They should stop their childish ‘venue blocking’ tactics, in general. It only makes the situation worse... for them.

Lragir.am provides additional details:

On May 2 the second congress of the political forces and NGOs supporting Levon Ter-Petrosyan will be held at the conference hall of the government, said Manushak Petrosyan, member of the election office of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, on April 28. She said the number of forces which have come together around Levon Ter-Petrosyan is not decreasing, and compared with the first congress which was held in December the number of participants has increased, Manushak Petrosyan says.

“Some more parties and NGOs are willing to join the popular movement,” Manushak Petrosyan said. About 20 parties, over 20 NGOs will participate in the congress.

Manushak Petrosyan says during the congress the past way and the past events will be assessed, as well as the plans of the popular movement will be discussed. Manushak Petrosyan says today the entire public is opposed to this government, and Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the forces which support him will lead this public as long as people will go after them. “We’ll struggle all the way through,” says Manushak Petrosyan.

She also said no hall was provided for the congress of forces supporting Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and the government gave up as soon as the Popular Movement reached agreement to hold the congress in Tbilisi, Manushak Petrosyan said, and provided the conference hall of the government. Manushak Petrosyan said in Tbilisi the participants of the congress would be fewer, who were going to leave for Tbilisi in the morning, hold the congress and return to Yerevan on the same day.

In answer to the question of reporters whether any representatives of the government were invited to participate in the congress Manushak Petrosyan said there is no need to invite for the sake of inviting. Besides, Manushak Petrosyan said the government has a possibility to listen to the speeches that will be made during the congress.