ANC: More details on October 28
Statement of the Armenian National Congress
"This spring, the Pan-National Movement was able to impose the release of political prisoners and return of the people to Freedom Square on the regime that seized power. This was followed by a dialogue on holding snap presidential and parliamentary elections to establish a legitimate government. International experience shows that the negotiations between the regime and the members of the pan-national movement led by the united opposition are the best way of making a smooth transition to democracy.
Civilized dialogue helps the sides reach agreements on the terms and conditions and timeframes for holding free and fair elections. That kind of cooperation hinged on mutual consent favors the society, which restores its right to choose a government without turbulence or bloody clashes, and the heads of the regime, which leave politics after returning power to the people in peace.
The arrest of Movement activist Tigran Arakelyan, the denial of negotiations over the demands presented by the people during the Congress's round-the-clock rallies in October, the pressures to threaten the people and the unprecedented blockade cutting other parts of the country from the capital with total limits on constitutional rights to free mobility showed that the regime has rejected the above mentioned civilized dialogue.
In this situation, the Movement sees no other way out for the reinstatement of democracy than to reach Serzh Sargsyan's unconditional resignation through a pan-national revolt against the existing regime. The regime refused to solve the illegitimacy crisis through negotiations and a smooth, civilized dialogue. Thus, it can no longer speak of Armenia's democratization. From now on, the Congress's main objective is becoming the mobilization of the people and the creation of a wide political and social front against Serzh Sargsyan's regime, as well as the creation of a situation in the country that will compel Serzh Sargsyan to resign. We will speak more about this at the rally on October 28."
