Epress.am News from Armenia
Protesters occupying central Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan celebrated Armenian Constitution Day on Sunday, July 6. At various times during the day, demonstrators read excerpts from the RA Constitution, stating they hereby wanted to become better informed about their rights, as well as inform other citizens about theirs.
Quotes from a number of articles of the Constitution were attached to the barricades, next to the already existing posters calling for the reversal of electricity price hikes. Demonstrators also urged Armenian authorities not to pass any constitutional changes: “Constitution is our only leader;” “We are against the constitutional reforms;” “Article 1: The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic, social state governed by rule of law;” “Article 2: In the Republic of Armenia the power belongs to the people;” “Article 14: Human dignity shall be respected and protected by the state as an inviolable foundation of human rights and freedoms.”
The constitutional reform which is expected to turn Armenia into a parliamentary republic was initiated in 2014 by RA president Serzh Sargsyan. The reform drew criticism from most opposition forces in Armenia which claimed by this reform ruling Republican Party wanted to ensure and maintain their power in Armenia.