Student Opposing Military Draft Abolishment Ends Hunger Strike, Insists Authorities ‘Will Never Win’

Davit Petrosyan, a member of the For the Development of Science students group, ended a 5-day hunger strike on Saturday, insisting, however, that he will not stop fighting for the restoration of the recently-abolished military draft deferments for students.  “My professors, friends and a number of other people whom I respect started a petition and collected over 500 signatures, asking me to stop the hunger strike. It was becoming pointless, and I was beginning to cause inconvenience to others. That’s the main reason I decided to end it. Other than that, we have not changed our message, which is that we will never see these authorities and this particular law as legitimate,” Petrosyan said in conversation with Epress.am.

When asked whether “causing inconvenience to others” was a good enough reason to stop the strike, Petrosyan replied: “I never expected such a reaction; I thought that people would mainly focus on the idea behind the hunger strike. I did not imagine that my friend and I would attract so much attention.”

Petrosyan added that he does not believe the authorities have “won the fight.” “They will never beat us. We’ve made many good friends, acquaintances and connections. [Us ending the hunger strike] is not a victory for them. As for the adoption of the law, this kind of victory will inevitably end in them losing, for the people are getting fed up with them,” he pointed out. “We are only taking a break. After the holidays, we’ll raise not only the issue of the draft deferments but will also demand a discussion on a number of problems concerning the education sector in general.”