Related posts:

• State of Emergency?
• Armenia: No Revolution Likely
• British Embassy Warden Message
• Armenia’s Bloody Saturday
• State of Emergency Ends
• U.S. Embassy Post-Election Warning
• Armenia: Open Letter
• U.S. Embassy Post-Election Warning

1. Paul 03.04.08 / 5pm

   Raffi Hov was at a rally- what about him? Or did he do not enough and is too popular a figure to go after- most likely. I know I wouldn’t want to be the one to deprive him of immunity.
2. Onnik 03.04.08 / 6pm

   He was at a rally twice and was not one of Ter-Petrossian’s main backers who I suppose the authorities allege were involved in preparing for a coup d’etat.

   In fact, interestingly enough, while Raffi Hovannisian and Heritage did turn up from time to time, their presence was understated and not actually part of Ter-Petrossian’s campaign.

   Indeed, they appear to be more neutral and guided by the law. Certainly, unlike those whose immunity is being stripped, Heritage MPs might have turned up in a show of solidarity.

   That’s how I see it, anyway. Or rather didn’t as like I said, Heritage were pretty much playing it low key and effectively acting as somehow more neutral if sympathetic forces trying to ensure that the rule of law prevailed.

   Moreover, you can’t compare Raffi Hovannisian with those detained and facing prosecution.

   At least three of them have enough skeletons in their closets to be considered responsible for incitement to violence (Malkhasyan), complicity to murder (Lady Hakob), and corruption (Grzo).

   On the other hand, who knows? We’re only into the state of emergency three days now and I’m sure dozens are going to be rounded up if they are considered to be part of Ter-Petrossian’s campaign to come to power through street protests and revolution.

   It’s also worth pointing out that Raffi Hovannisian was not there for the unrest on Saturday. I saw Stepan Safarian at one point around 4-5 pm, but not later. Anyway, as far as I’m aware, Raffi H was not there unless someone knows any different.
3. Onnik 03.04.08 / 6pm

   Looks like people are detained based on their roles in what I believe was also an attempt to come to power through a coup d’etat dressed up as some kind of “pro-democracy” movement.

   Just looking at the names involved and it’s easy to see that none have any democratic credentials. Of course, same is true for the authorities, but anyway. At the end of the day, however, play with fire and you’re going to get burned.

   Most of the names should have been taken to court long ago for other crimes. Of course, there are many more allied with the authorities as well as the opposition that haven’t been although the issue here is an attempt to usurp power and not past crimes, I suppose.

   Ironic to see the pro-opposition press make them out to be some kind of innocent victims. They never were and they never will be although yes, this is all politically motivated as attempts to come to power always are.

   More Ter-Petrosian Allies Arrested

   At least five more prominent allies of former President Levon Ter-Petrosian, among them two parliament deputies, have been arrested on charges stemming from their active participation in Saturday’s opposition demonstration marred by deadly violence, opposition lawyers said on Monday.

   The reported arrests raised to at least 30 the number of Ter-Petrosian supporters jailed in the aftermath of Armenia’s disputed presidential election.

   Only one of them was officially confirmed by law-enforcement authorities. Police said parliament deputy Miasnik Malkhasian was detained while fleeing the scene of the protest early Sunday. A police statement said he is facing prosecution under Article 300 of the Armenian Criminal Code dealing with attempts to “usurp power.”

   […]

   According to opposition sources, law-enforcement authorities also detained another pro-Ter-Petrosian deputy, Hakob Hakobian, was part of the same criminal investigation into what the Armenian authorities call an opposition attempt at coup d’etat.

   http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/E8520DCB-FB00-43DD-AF84-015675F9E74B.ASP
4. Onnik 03.04.08 / 7pm

   30 arrested over suspicion in inciting unrest
   04.03.2008 15:50 GMT+04:00

   /PanARMENIAN.Net/ 30 people were arrested over suspicion in inciting disorders in Yerevan on March 1. Some of them were tried earlier, even more than once, RA prosecutor general’s spokesperson Sona Truzyan said.

   “The special investigation group is taking all essential measures to detect all organizers and participators in recent confusion,” he said.

   On March 1 morning the Armenian police dispersed a rally of Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters in Liberty Square. The protest action was continued at the French Embassy and ended in disorders, clashes with police and looting.

   In the evening President Kocharian declared 20-day state of emergency.
5. nazarian 03.04.08 / 8pm

   Now they call it a coup d’etat? When did they start doing that?

   No matter what, though, they won’t be able to whitewash wat they did; Kocarian-Sargsian are on the wrong side of the history.
6. Onnik 03.04.08 / 8pm

   As soon as Ter-Petrossian admitted it was a “revolution,” I suppose. Otherwise, we knew it was all along. Ter-Petrossian had no chance at the ballot box even in a clean vote and he came back planning on taking the presidency on the streets. That was clear to us as soon as he started his Liberty Square rallies last year and making speeches full of such hate and certainly with no substance. Anyway, Kocharian first made reference to a coup d’etat or attempting to come to power through illegal means and street protests on 23 February in a meeting with the National Security Council.
7. nazarian 03.05.08 / 5am

   How do we know that he didn’t have a chance with a clean ballot? If he didn’t have a chance then Serj Sargsian would have had a clean ballot not the disgusting farce they held.

   But speculation like this is pointless now. The crimes have been committed and the problem now is how to deal with the future and do damage control so that we lose as little as possible because of the RK-SS actions.

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