Uprising Radio on Armenia Protests

Uprising Radio has a program available online on the recent election in Armenia, the protests that followed, and the state of emergency. The guests on the radio station based in Los Angeles were Dr. Harry Sarafian and Harout Der-Tavitian from the Coalition for a Democratic Armenia.

Early this month, violence between protesters and security forces in Armenia left at least 8 people dead. Outgoing President Robert Kocharian declared a state of emergency which was only lifted last Friday. The first test of the end of the ban happened on Friday itself with a “silent protest” in the central part of the capital, Yerevan, staged by about a thousand people opposed to the official results of the February presidential vote. The official results of that vote gave victory to the candidate endorsed by Kocharian, current Prime Minister, Serzh Sarkisian. The main opposition leader, Levon Ter-Petrosyan placed second and claims widespread election fraud - he and his followers want the results overturned. As of now Sarkisian is expected to be inaugurated on April 9th - it will be the first time in post-Soviet Armenia that an incumbent will pass reins of power over to his chosen successor.