11 April 2018, 16:55
Political analysts are sceptical about opposition protests in Armenia
Today, the MPs from the "Elk" oppositional faction have lit flares at the parliament session and urged residents of Armenia to go out to protest against Serzh Sargsyan. However, the political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe that the faction's call is sooner aimed at promoting the opposition and poses no serious threat to the ruling party.
On April 9, the inauguration of Armen Sargsyan as the new President of Armenia was held; and the presidential powers of Serzh Sargsyan terminated. On April 17, the Parliament will elect the Prime Minister, who, in accordance with the recent constitutional reform, will be the first person of the state.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a joint rally of the Front "For the State of Armenia" and the initiative group "Reject Serzh" in Freedom Square in Yerevan, held in the evening on April 9, gathered about 500 people, who demanded not to allow Serzh Sargsyan, the former President, to the post of the Prime Minister.
Today, while discussing the amendments to the Law "On Trade and Services", Ararat Mirzoyan, an MP from the above "Elk" faction, who had earlier applied for a speech, instead of discussing the amendments, has stated from the parliamentary rostrum: "The time has come for the society to prevent the reproduction of Serzh Sargsyan's power. Each of us should come to Freedom Square and light our torch of freedom." Then, Mr Mirzoyan and lit his flare.
Lena Nazaryan, his faction colleague, has joined him and lit two colour flares.
It was an opposition's promo action aimed to attract more people to the protest movement, Karen Kocharyan, a political analyst, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
He did not rule out that the opposition's performance may turn into a political action.
The action of the MPs from the "Elk" faction may attract people to the opposition, but cannot create any real threat to the ruling party, said Grant Mikaelyan, a political analyst and a researcher at the Caucasus Institute.
"They may attract supporters but cannot bring oppositional masses to the streets; they are unable to create any real problem for the ruling power," he explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Tigran Petrosyan Source: CK correspondent
