01 September 2010, 19:00
Yerevan mayoralty bans oppositional rally in Freedom Square
Having banned the oppositional rally in the Freedom Square on September 17, the mayoralty offered to hold the action in the territory adjoining Matenadaran. The Armenian National Congress (ANC) believes this decision to be "obviously illegal".
As reported by Gagik Bagdasaryan, head of the organizing committee of the mayoralty of Yerevan, the decision to ban the rally was made at today's session.
According to his story, the rally in the Freedom Square was banned, because at the same time there "another action, which was decided earlier" will take place. "The mayoralty is engaged in preparatory works for celebrating the Day of the City - 'Erebuni-Yerevan'. Every day, after working hours, rehearsals will be held there, as the programme is prepared. These actions will start on September 10 and last till October 9," said the official.
In answer to the remark that the promulgated ANC's statement says that on the day of submitting the notification on holding the rally, there were no other notifications about any events on September 17 in the Freedom Square on the announcement board of the mayoralty, Mr Bagdasaryan said: " Firstly, it's not a mass public action; secondly, it wouldn't be right if the mayoralty starts notifying itself about any planned actions."
"Everything was under the law; and we were guided by legal provisions," Radio Liberty quotes the bureaucrat as saying.
