Levon Ter-Petrossian’s Final Pre-Election Campaign Meeting in Yerevan
Today saw the final pre-election campaign rally by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian in Yerevan’s Liberty Square. There was no doubt that it was going to be large, although I personally don’t think it was much different than last week’s. Regardless, according to E-Channel’s guide to estimating crowds in Liberty Square, I’d put it at approximately 35,000.
However, one international news wire put it at 50,000 as did E-Channel, while EurasiaNet says 30-40,000. Given that estimating crowds is not an exact science, I’ll split the difference and call it 40,000. Regardless, it was one of the largest pre-election political rallies I’ve attended in Armenia in nine years of living here, the others being Ter-Petrossian last week as well as those staged by Vahan Hovannisian and Artur Baghdasarian. For sure, in the numbers game in Liberty Square, Ter-Petrossian holds the record.
This is especially the case given the way in which the organizers of every political rally either incorrectly judges the size or inflates the figure to such an extent that it is not only incredible, but also physically impossible. Levon Ter-Petrossian’s people in the form of Nikol Pashinian put the number of those in attendance at 230,000. A1 Plus told me later in the day that the number was then increased to over 300,000 people. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I have to be honest, it never ceases to amaze me.
Regardless, if the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan, can be accused of not being willing to accept the results in case of defeat, the same fear can be expressed with regards to Ter-Petrossian. Actually, the same is true for some of the other candidates as well, and while this is to be expected from those campaigning for office, the concern is that both Sargsyan and Ter-Petrossian are looking to come to power by any means available and at their disposal.
Indeed, A1 Plus reports that Ter-Petrossian’s team has already announced a “victory celebration” meeting the day after the election.
Nikol Pushinyan told the participants the latest news circulating in the country. He told that the authorities were in panic and would continue disseminating disinformation and mendacity. “You see that Alik Harutyunyan, who is accused of 27 October case, and his journalists, disseminate false information, materials and news. We have no right to receive information from Nairi Hunanyan’s TV companies and newspapers. The only source for the information for us should be our gatherings”.
Nikol Pushinyan invited everyone to celebrate the victory On 20 February at 15.00.
Anyway, as I arrived at the rally 20 minutes late and there was no access provided for journalists, I couldn’t get to the front of the stage and Ter-Petrossian’s security were less than helpful although quite polite this time round apart from one who grabbed me by the arm and led me away from an area one of his colleagues had initially taken me to. So, not many photos and I have to be honest, without having freedom of movement provided with a little bit of forethought from the organizers, there was little point in staying.
- Published:
- 02.16.08 / 11pm by Onnik
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