Yerevan Liberty Square hosts Raffi Hovhannisian’s 'inauguration' (updated)

Yerevan Liberty Square is getting prepared for inauguration of leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian. The organizers, associates of the party leader are engaged in the works.

Speaking at the recent rally Raffi Hovannisian promised that samples of Armenia’s Constitution would be distributed in the Liberty Square.

The activists who walked two days from Gyumri to Yerevan to attend the event reached the square at 10.30.

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11:00 

Activists from the second largest city of Gyumri, who have been in the square since morning, were welcomed with applauses.

Before reaching the square, they had met police resistance. An activist speaking to our correspondent said they clashed with policemen who were trying to bar their procession to the square. A deputy leader of Heritage, Armen Martirosyan, had accompanied the crowd.
 
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12:48
 

Raffi Hovhannisian’s inauguration kicks off

The opposition candidate delivered his oath, with the crowd gathered in the square welcoming him with warm applauses and chants.

After singing the Armenian national anthem, Hovhannisian went down the podium to greet the people and again returned to continue his speech.

“No to fake inauguration, to fake presidents and fake patriarchs. Long live Armenia! We are not going to take a false oath today. You are now aware that we will swear an oath for Armenia, our law and our children. Let those making an oath at the [Sports and Concert] Complex think now. God save us, but the Armenian nation has won,” said the former candidate.

“[People] in the other hall have probably spent money long, whereas the things here are quite natural. What we have here is our republic, so we have held a victory together,” he added.

13.21

Continuing his speech Raffi Hovannisian urged the soldiers not to come against the people in the Liberty Square and stand on the border. “And let no one play with the identity of the people.”

“From today we must become the owners of our right,” he said, calling on the police not to present the false information about the number of people gathered in the square.

He stated that until the evening they will remain in the square and in the morning of April 10 will celebrate their victory. “Let those who want go home, go, and those who want to stand for the sake of the homeland, our grandfathers, our grandchildren stay. Our light will not fade away, the light of our unity will not extinguish and we will keep this light until tomorrow morning,” he said.

“I demand resignation of Serzh Sargsyan, Seyran Ohanyan, prosecutor general. Either resign or arrest me,” he said.

Addressing the authorities Raffi Hovannisian said, “We have been unchained long ago. The chains, the prison are yours. The Armenian people resurrected 10 days ago,” he said.

He urged Serzh Sargsyan and the Catholicos to join the people today at 6 pm.
Hovannisian also stated that he is not going to leave the people and will stay committed to them till his last breath.

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14: 50

Raffi Hovhannisian took his "oath" in Liberty Square together with the crowd of supporters who had been given the promised copies of the Constitution.

The opposition party’s leader said that ceremony will be his last oath-taking event expected to mark the Armenian nation’s unanimity.

"For the sake of belief and the republic, I, the citizen of Armenia, declare to the illegitimate authorities that I do not recognize the fake leader and will not obey to false demands and unlawful instructions. I am authorized by the law and protected by the Constitution; I am never bribed, and I never retreat. We, the citizens of the fourth Republic of Armenia, vow for the dream of our grandfathers, the future of our children and the Constitution of our state that we will fight. We will fight everywhere, with love and respect, and never get tired. We will give one another hope and power, and we will win. We, the proud citizens of New Armenia, will build under the shadow of [Mount] Ararat. our real homeland which will never see our brothers and sisters flee and where all the Armenians will return, a homeland where there is law and an opportunity to work, a future and and an elected president. The day of justice is not far away, and that day is today," said Hovhannisian, with the crowd repeating his words.

The former opposition candidate promised to unveil his "cabinet" on April 12.

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15:09

Raffi Hovannisian noted that the people’s victory is going to be celebrated and, after a concert scheduled for 6:00am, the Heritage party will start building up New Armenia.


“Serzh Sargsyan has sworn a false oath. If the Catholicos has blessed him I do not recognize either Serzh Sargsyan or the Catholicos. I only recognize the Armenian people,” he said.


Hovannisian intends to present his cabinet on April 12. “Not a shadow cabinet along with Armenia’s authorities, but New Armenia’s authorities,” he said.  

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