Opposition marks Human Rights Day by holding rally in Yerevan

On the occasion of the International Day of Human Rights, the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) has organized a rally in the center of Yerevan.

"The International Day of Human Rights is a holiday which is mostly important for countries where human rights cost almost next to nothing," said Aram Manukyan, the board director of the Armenian Pan-National Movement.

"It took three days to release two political prisoners – Gabriel Gabrielyan and Felix Gevorgyan," former Prosecutor General Gagik Jhangiryan said, adding that the two opposition activists have already joined the pan-national movement.

Armenian society is to blame for tolerating the gang-rule for ten years, according to the Head of Democratic Homeland Party, Petros Makeyan.

"The human rights situation in Armenia is disastrous," he said in his speech.

Addressing the protesters, ANC representative David Shahnazaryan said: "You are the only ones protecting human rights in Armenia".

ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan said that after the prisoners' release their party will continue the struggle, calling for the freedom of television and the press and reinstating the people's right to elect their own government.