Regime Change in Armenia to Start On Genocide Remembrance Day Despite Arrests: Civil Initiative

The Armenian law enforcement is conducting searches in the headquarters of the “Founding Parliament” civil initiative and the houses of its members in Armenia's provinces, a statement by the initiative said. Earlier on April 7 “Founding Parliament” reported about searches in Yerevan; a number of members of the initiative have been detained. 

The RA Investigative Committee said later on Tuesday that “Founding Parliament” coordinator Jirayr Sefilian, members of the initiative Pavel Manukyan, Varujhan Avetisyan, and Gevorg Safaryan were arrested on charges pursuant to Article 225 of the RA Criminal Code (organization of mass disorder, accompanied with violence, pogroms, arson, destruction or damage to property, using fire-arms, explosives or explosive devices, or by armed resistance to the representative of the authorities).

In Vanadzor, Hovhannes Ghazaryan has been detained after a search at his house. According to the statement, searches are being conducted at the initiative's headquarters in Vanadzor and Kapan. Aram Hakobyan, the Head of the initiative's office in Gyumri, has also been detained; the police have allegedly found a “freshly packaged grenade” on the roof of his house.

According to an earlier statement issued by the RA Investigative Committee, “the RA National Security Service and Special Investigative Committee have joined forces to prevent mass disorders at the public event locations on April 24, 2015.”

“As a result of measures undertaken, it has become clear that a group of individuals, taking into consideration the real likelihood of large gatherings at the locations of public events organized on the territory of the Republic of Armenia on April 24, 2015 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, has been calling on the people to not obey that day the requirements of the authorities, and, if necessary, to use violence, to resort to power struggle,” the official statement said.

Note, that the “Founding Parliament” civil initiative is pursuing regime change in Armenia. However, the initiative's coordinator, war veteran Jirayr Sefilian stated earlier that they were not going to organize upheavals on April 24. 

Meanwhile, in Yerevan “Founding Parliament” member, Nagorno-Karabakh war veteran Gagik Sarukhanyan (pictured) said to the journalist today that the time and place of “The Centennial without this regime” sanctioned rally organized by the initiative remain unchanged – 7 PM on April 24, in front of the Erebuni Museum in Yerevan. 

The arrests and searches conducted on Tuesday, as stated by Sarukhanyan, can not interfere with the implementation of their plans. 

“The rally will take place, and we will begin the process of ending this despicable situation, we will pursue regime change. We are prepared for any scenario. If you'd asked Jirayr Sefilian during the [Artsakh Liberation War] if he knew he could be killed, he'd have said 'of course, I know.' Now our liberation movement has entered a new phase; we are going to liberate both Artsakh and Armenia, and, of course, we are aware of and are prepared for the dangers. Even if the rally were set on top of Mount Aragats, the regime change would still take place,” Sarukhanyan said.