Government Rejects Bill to Mark March 1 as Memorial Day for Victims of Post-Election Clashes

The Armenian Government on Thursday rejected a bill that would have established March 1 as a memorial day for the victims of the deadly post-election clashes on March 1, 2008, and a national day of protest against state terrorism and repression. The draft amendments to the Armenian law on holidays and commemoration days were put forward by several representatives of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary faction.

However, according to the Cabinet's decision, the proposed changes “do not conform” to the provisions of the corresponding law. In addition, authorities said, the opposition-initiated bill was “based entirely on political assessments.”

On March 1st, 2008, early in the morning, Armenian riot police and military forces used excessive force and violence to disperse an opposition camp site in Freedom Square. The clashes left 10 people dead and many more wounded on the streets of central Yerevan. To date, relevant criminal proceedings have not been completed, no one has been convicted or charged with the murders.