20:36, 22 March 2014

Protest against pension reforms in Yerevan was about 15,000 strong

Rally against pension reforms. Armenia, Yerevan, March 22, 2014. Photo by Armine Martirosyan for the "Caucasian Knot"

On Saturday, March 22, Yerevan hosted a rally against pension reforms initiated by the DEM.AM. The action was attended by about 15,000 people, who discussed all the risks associated with the new pension system, and declared that in case the amendments of the pension legislation were found constitutional, acts of civil disobedience would follow, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

In October 2013, in the course of debates around the provisions of the pension reform, the community DEM.AM was set up, which united those residents of Yerevan, who protested against the new Armenia accumulative pension system.

Nikol Pashinyan, an MP from the Armenian National Congress (ANC), appealed to the authorities calling them "to think about their rating and legitimacy, given the mass protests and their spirit."

Grant Bagratyan, another MP, has noted in his speech that "by introducing a new pension tax, the authorities solve their own problems."

The rally turned into a march through the central streets of Yerevan; there were no incidents during the action.

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent