"No one can blame March 1 clashes on Kocharian"
Serzh Sargsyan's assignment to disclose the deadly clashes of March 1, 2008, cannot be considered as pre-election PR, said Razmik Zohrabyan, deputy of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK).
"When the authorities and the HHK announced that the page of March 1 is already closed, they meant its political part. The iinvestigation into the death of the ten victims is in progress," said Zohrabyan.
In response to the alleged cooperation between Serzh Sargsyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan (leader of the opposition Armenian National Congress -HAK) and their attempts to blame the clashes on Robert Kocharian (Armenia's second president who was in office during the tragic events of March 2008) the Republican representative said, "No one can lay the blame on Kocharian. Similarly, I could be accused of voting for the state of emergency imposed in the country after the bloody clashes. Kocharian simply made a proposal which was approved by the parliament."
According to the HHK representative, the order to open fire at the demonstrators on March 1 was not received from Baghramyan 26 (presidential residence).
"Shots were heard in the opposition camp but the perpetrators are still unknown. It might be a secret subversive group that targeted at Armenia and its people and aimed to ensnare the authorities and opposition. We are trying to disclose the reasons for the clashes."
Razmik Zohrabyan welcomed the Ombudsman's proposal to reconcile the sides (opposition and authorities), saying it was a manifestation of good will.
"The authorities have always expressed readiness to start a dialogue with the opposition. I am not against the Ombudsman's decision to bring the sides closer but it is important that the sides agree to the Ombudsman's proposal," said Zohrabyan.
Speaking about the opposition's upcoming rally, the HHK vice-chairman said that it will not mark the final watershed between the authorities and the opposition and HAK will continue its rallies in Yerevan.
During the April 8 rally, Levon Ter-Petrosyan demanded that the authorities release all "political prisoners," allow free organization of rallies in Liberty Square, and start probe into the bloody clashes of March 1, 2008, that left ten killed and numerous injured in Yerevan.
