Epress.am News from Armenia
Police had closed parts of Koryun St. and Mashtots Blvd. in Yerevan today, where a few dozen buses from the regions were parked.
The reason? Hayots Ardzivner (“Armenian Eagles”), a patioritic, civic group was celebrating the one-year anniversary of its founding, RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s 3 years in office and the Armenian state’s 20th anniversary. The group had gathered outside Matenadaran (Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts) earlier today, then proceeded to march down Sayat-Nova St. and other major streets in downtown Yerevan.
Participating in the celebrations were youth from nearly all of Armenia’s provinces (marzes), who, in their words, were brought to the capital by the coordinators of Hayots Ardzivner regional branches.
Epress.am spoke with students from the No. 1 school in Nor Hajn village who said their teachers brought them here.
“Everything happened so quickly, we still don’t know what this is, we’ve come to see,” they explained.
Youth from Idjevan told Epress.am their ideology is the Armenian president, Serzh Sargsyan, the Armenian army and the Armenian state. About 22–23 year-old youth were saying that their main concern is protecting Armenia’s borders.
“It’s true, there are social problems, but today the most important is keeping the borders; if there’s a war, I’m going to go fight,” said one young man by the name of Gevorg.
Head of the Hayots Ardzivner Vartenis branch Arman Arshakyan said that he “brought quite a lot of people” with him.
He said they don’t receive backing from any political parties, though a few of the youth were wearing scarves with the words “Forward, Armenia” written on them — Serzh Sargsyan’s well-known campaign slogan.
Asked by Epress.am, how they their trip to Yerevan was financed, he said the organization had provided funds to all the region for transportation and food.
“We’re fighting against religious sects, against drug addiction, we try to bring back our drug addicts who are patriots. I know that, in my opinion, great patriots support the organization: [Vivacell-MTS General Manager] Ralph Yirikian, Ararat’s copper plant, the rest, forgive me, I don’t know,” he said.
The youth from Armavir were unable to say what their organization’s purpose and ideology was.
– To tell you the truth, we don’t know what the ideology is; they brought us, we came.
– From where and how did you come?
– From Malishka, Vayots Dzor; Smbad Shahbazyan brought us; here, he’ll come and he’ll tell you.
– Why did you come, what’s the event today?
– To tell you the truth, we don’t really know, but our [group] leader will come in a second and he’ll tell you.
Music could be heard near the Matenadaran, song and dance, and the youth were dancing, while others from the regions were coming in groups, waving Armenian flags, as they approached the building.