On May 21 the RoA Appellate Court adjourned the trial of Avetik Ghrechian because of Advocate Armen Martirossian's sickness absence.

“The opposition was ready for the March 1 events while the authorities were not,” ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian said today at the 30th Congress of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. “The reasons for the authorities' unreadiness are still to be revealed,” he says.

In reply to A1+’s question concerning the post-election occurrences of March 1, ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian said, “Surely I would shoot if I were attacked. Who would like to be shot dead?”

Today about 3:00 an unknown person fired a shot at the chairman of the Helsinki Association-Armenia Mikael Danielian on Terian Street, Yerevan. According to Danielian's friend they had hardly stopped unde a traffic light when Danielian noticed a friend walking along the pavement. He stretched out to salute him.

Today the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) convened its 30th Congress in the conference hall of the Armenian Government. All the three coalition partners /Orinats Yerkir, Bargavach Hayastan and Republican parties/ were invited to the Congress.

Armenian citizen Gnel Tovmassian has been arrested in connection with organizing and provoking mass disorders in Yerevan on May 1. He is charged with distributing bottles of gasoline to demonstrators.

Leader of the “Heritage” Party MP Raffi Hovhannissian was not sure who would accept his invitation and take part in the evening discussions. Yesterday he invited leaders of the coalition government Serzh Sargssian, Gagik Tsarukian, Arthur Baghdasarian, Armen Rustamian and First President of RA Levon Ter-Petrossian to a roundtable discussion due in the Armenian Center for Strategic and National Investigations.

Today with 97 pro and 1 con votes Member of the “Dashnaktsutyun” Party (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Hrayr Karapetian was elected Vice Speaker of the RA National Assembly.

“Even God cannot change the past”, declared Cem Toker, Turkish politician and Leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party of Turkey at the international conference organized by the Eurasia Foundation Representative Office in Armenia and Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation.

EU welcomed Ombudsman Armen Harutyunian’s special report on 1 March events. “Mr Chairman, on 4 March the European Union expressed its deep concern over the violence in Yerevan during the events of 1 March, which resulted in the loss of life and numerous injuries. We called at that time for an independent investigation into the events of 1 March and what led to them.

Today the RA National Assembly passed the bill on amendments and supplements to the “Law on meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations” at first reading. The bill was drafted by Chairman of the National Assembly Tigran Torossian.

Member of the “New Times” Party Board Hrachya Sargssian and another 6 party members have been on a hunger-strike at the RA Prosecutor’s Office for 6 days already. They demand that Chairman of the “New Times” Party Aram Karapetian be released.

Samvel Gevorgian and Koryun Tadevosian are still on a hunger-strike in the city of Masis. Yesterday at about 12:00 they were taken to the local police department and only at 17:00 were they released.

Today before the National Assembly of Armenia passed to its routine activities NA Speaker Tigran Torossian congratulated Vahan Hovhannissian on the election of ARF Dashnaktsutiun Leader and Heghine Bisharian on the election of OYK Leader.

“Ter-Petrossian’s supporters have extended over fifty notifications of rallies to the City Hall of Yerevan but all of them have been declined. We give the government a reasonable term /specified in the PACE resolution of April 17/ to sober up and shift the process onto a political path.

Leader of the Zharangutiun Party Raffi Hovannissian has invited Serzh Sarkissian, Gagik Tsarukian, Arthur Baghdasarian, Armen Rustamian and Levon Ter-Petrossian to an “urgent meeting.”

Today residents of Vanatur settlement staged a protest action near the National Assembly in support of the detained MP Sasun Mikayelian. They were accompanied by invalid veteran Arshavir Bozinian. T

Today women gathered in front of the RoA Appellate Court chanted “Free Alik,” “Free and Independent Armenia” for two hours. Meanwhile, the Appellate Court rejected Advocate Hovhannes Arsenian's claim and decided to prolong Arzumanian's term of detention for another two months.

Four Republicans won offices during the May 18 elections of district heads of Yerevan City. District heads of Avan and Nork-Marash, Taron Margarian and Varazdat Mkrtchian, will hold office for another four years.

“Aram Karapetian's health is at peril and he needs an immediate and lasting medical treatment at a specialized medical center equipped with the necessary medical facilities,” runs the press release of the Nor Zhamanakner Party (NZhK). The conclusion was drawn by two leading Austrian Cardiologists, Professors Christian Puntzenberger and Michael Grund after studying Dr. Armen Gasparian detailed diagnosis of Karapetian's health state.

“Did people break a rule or attack an official before the March 1 events? They stayed calm even after the Central Election Commission publicized the election figures. No one resorted to violation. Authorities state that they used arms to avert further threats but their step is not justified. The rigged presidential election resulted in the March 1 events,” said Leader of the People's Party of Armenia (HZhK) Stepan Demirchian.

Dr. Armen Gasparyan physically examined the patient-the chairman of the “New Times” Political Party Aram Karapetyan, performed ECG and found ischemia in the septum and posterior wall of the heart, signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and bradicardia (58-62 per minute). Blood pressure - 160/115 mm Hg with frequent raises up to levels specific for hypertonic crisis (diastolic or inferior blood pressure of 120 mm Hg).

On May 15 Hrachia Sargsian, member of the political board of the Nor Zhamanakner Party (NZhK), went on a hunger strike near the Office of Prosecutor General. He had two demands: to provide medical aid to the NZhK Leader Aram Karapetian who has got health problems and to release him from the penitentiary.

“Armenia’s Parliament doesn’t reflect public spirits today while in 1990 the Supreme Council covered the whole public sector,” says the ex-deputy speaker of the National Assembly Ara Sahakian.