Opposition promises to establish "state of new quality" in Armenia

/By AzerNews - Mushvig Mehdiyev/

Armenia’s radical opposition group, Founding Parliament, blamed the Armenian authorities for ignoring the requirements and principles of Independence Declaration and the Constitution.

The Founding Parliament's deputy chairman, Hayk Grigoryan said it was time to establish national power in Armenia, adding that nothing could tackle his group's vigorous will to initiate a process aimed at "removing the anti-national regime".

Five members of the hardline group, including its chairman Garegin Chukaszyan and leading member Jirair Sefilian, were handcuffed on April 7 after a violent government crackdown against the opposition members. They were later convicted for attempting to organize mass disturbances through nationwide rally on April 24.

All were taken into two-month custody pending trial. Another FP member was charged with illegal possession of arms and ammunition, but was later released on bail pending trial.

Alek Yenigomshyan, the temporary coordinator of the group, said they have a particular program for the transitional stage after "removing the regime".

"We plan to submit a draft constitution to be approved in a referendum following the regime's overthrow. If it gets sufficient votes, it will undertake to arrange nationwide and local elections," he said.

"If it fails to gather enough votes, we will then hold new ones under the current constitution. Those citizens who sign a contract with us commit themselves to the ideas of the Founding Parliament, while the FP assumes the obligation to build a state of new quality in Armenia," Yenigomshyan added.

The Founding Parliament activists claim that the arrests of the movement members have not thwarted the group’s plans and their struggle to go on backed by national solidarity.

The radical opposition group plans to launch a non-government push on April 24 – the day of the centennial commemoration of the so-called "Armenian genocide".

Yenigomshyan said that they have no expectations when it comes to cooperate with other opposition colleagues.

"The Founding Parliament’s philosophy is to find a systematic peculiar solution outside the current system," he added.

Meanwhile, the FP announced that it will hold a march and a rally in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on April 17, in coordination with the city authorities. The group also noted that the major rally near the Erebuni Museum on the outskirts of Yerevan on April 24 have also been approved by the municipality.