Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian just announced that he is ending his hunger strike.<\/p>\n
Recall, he began his “Fast for Freedom” on Mar. 15 in Yerevan’s Liberty Square.<\/p>\n
Hovannisian began a speech delivered around 5 pm at Liberty Square to supporters and journalists with a quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they attack you, then you win.”<\/p>\n
Hovannisian then said that he is dedicating his “Fast for Freedom” to the twentieth anniversary of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh War. He added, the “first act” of the fast has come to an end: tomorrow is his daughter Shushi’s 18th birthday and he would like to fulfill his familial obligations, since lately his forsaken his duties as a father.<\/p>\n
“This civil sanctuary of liberty has become the gathering place of these same values: liberty (freedom), sovereignty, dignity. In politics and in society we see that we have lived in a harbor of spirit- and consciousness-raising; now it’s the time for RA citizens to realize that they’re the future generations of our state. Through debates, solidarity, visits, song and dance, our people are demanding the return of power [to the people] through both elections and essentially. All this is already on the agenda and is necessary so that, in the coming weeks, that which there is is continuous,” he said.<\/p>\n
The MP noted that what’s important is not the quantity but the quality of people who gathered during the days of his hunger strike.<\/p>\n
After his speech, a priest present at the gathering read a prayer, blessed the bread in his hand, then asked Hovannisian to eat it.<\/p>\n
Those present clapped, welcomed Hovannisian’s decision, after which an announcement was made that local singer Ruben Hakhverdyan will hold a concert at Liberty Square today. The concert has already commenced.<\/p>\n
Recall, Hakhverdyan had come to Liberty Square two days ago to show his support to Hovannisian.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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