Armenian opposition parties urge government to lift martial law

Seventeen Armenian opposition parties, which united against the prime minister last week, demanding his resignation over the "disgraceful capitulation document" on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), have now issued a joint call upon the current government for lifting the martial law declared on September 27.  

The coalition bloc, including the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D), the Homeland party, Prosperous Armenia and over a dozen of other political allies, cited the public outrage over the November 10 ceasefire deal (signed after 44 days of war) proposing the handover of several regions to Azerbaijan and the connection of that country with Nakhichevan by a road corridor passing through Armenia's south.  

Citing the court rulings declaring the recently reported arrests unjustifiable, as well as the fact that the war "ended" after the signing of the Russia-brokered truce, the parties raise the urgency of lifting the special regime imposing restrictions on freedom of assembly and banning the publication of media reports criticizing the work of government institutions and local self-government bodies.

Meantime the parties urge the government to end the practice of "political persecutions" and ensure the constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful assembly.