Epress.am News from Armenia
When the ruling authorities don't deal with their citizens, citizens begin to "deal with" the authorities, said secretary of the Armenian National Congress faction, Aram Manukyan, speaking about the several simultaneous protests outside the presidential palace today.
Protesting across the street from the president's office were Emma Sahakyan, who has been conducting a sit-in there for the past 2 years, relatives of the accused in the Harsnaqar case, retired pilots with disabilities, and women's rights organizations.
In conversation with Epress.am, the MP said, ultimately, the rest of the nation is going to come and gather outside the president's office, and people will be convinced that it's not protesting that is needed but to get rid of them against whom they're complaining.
"There is no other solution; we are very slow to approach this idea. Various initiatives, a number of groups and individuals fought; some of them got tired; others, gave up and left. Today, representatives of five different structures, independent of one another, are protesting. There is no [social] layer or domain left in Armenia that doesn’t complain. There is [only] one solution: a change of government will save [the situation, the country, us]. Otherwise, one part emigrates; another part fights, and nothing is left at the bottom. People get tired, disappointed, and the issues are not resolved, and they do that which [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan wants — they leave the country. There is no single economic issue — the issue of pensioners, jewellers, pilots, taxi drivers, or Harsnaqar — there is only a political issue. The only salvation is a change of power," he said.