YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The Prosecutor’s Office of Yerevan issued a warning to Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sargssian–calling a rally staged by the opposition figure earlier this month illegal and disturbing.
The Prosecutor’s Office also made it clear that Sargssian "would face legal charges in case he commits a similar offense."
The rally which was held in support of the Karabakh struggle–was approved by the Yerevan Mayor’s office–however an ensuing peaceful march toward the Foreign Ministry building was not permitted by the administration of the city.
Sargssian–when summoned to the prosecutor’s office to be given the notice–was asked to sign the document to signify his knowledge of the warning. Sargssian–however–refused to sign the warning–asking to see a copy of the decrees and laws–according to which the public march were deemed illegal.
Sargssian pointed out that there was "a political need" to hold a rally on Dec. 10 and he would like to know the reasons–based on which Yerevan’s mayor had prohibited him from realizing his constitutional rights. Moreover–according to Sargssian–this is not the first time that Yerevan’s mayor turns down applications on holding marches.
Karapetian promised to report to his management the reasons for which Sargssian had refused to sign the document.
Noyan Tapan learned that the same procedure had been repeated a few days after the rally–at which point Sargssian had again asked for the documen’s warranting the mayor’s decisions.
The issue is expected to be raised at the next meeting of the Steering Committee of the All Armenian Forum in Defense of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It is likely to be decided then whether to bring in a civil action or not.
