Raffi Hovannisian Takes Presidential Victory Tour Across Armenia

Yerevan—Raffi K. Hovannisian, President-elect of the Republic of Armenia, today launched a victory tour which took him to a number of regions of Armenia where overwhelming crowds had gathered to greet their new president. In addition to scheduled meetings in Ashtarak, Vanadzor, and Gyumri, spontaneous rallies were held in the towns of Aparan and Spitak.

Hovannisian’s first stop was Ashtarak. “I came here to greet you,” Hovannisian said, adding that he remembers how fearful people were the last time he held a meeting in the Ashtarak town square. He declared that the situation has changed, and no one will dare any longer to threaten the citizens ofArmenia. Stressing the exclusion of violence and the necessity to achieve a peaceful change of power via the constitutional path, Hovannisian noted: “If any commander orders a soldier to do anything besides protecting the borders or ensuring our security, he will be held accountable.”

Hovannisian then went to the towns of Aparan and Spitak, where people spontaneously turned out to greet him. In both towns the police tried to hinder the meetings. Hovannisian, however, required them not to violate human rights, explaining that these are not organized but spontaneous demonstrations, to which citizens are entitled. In Aparan, when Hovannisian tried to approach the policemen, they took flight by car, and only a bit later returned and listened to the President-elect of theRepublicofArmenia. “Aparan and Bash Aparan—which saved theRepublicofArmeniafrom the Turks in 1918—will saveArmeniaonce again,” Hovannisian said.

Hovannisian then headed for Vanadzor, where several thousand people overflowed the city square. “Armenia’s citizens won, the people won, Vanadzor won, and no one will be able to take our victory away,” Hovannisian told the crowd. Criticizing the Vanadzor mayor for claiming that Raffi Hovannisian won in his city because the people were “unconscious,” the President-elect said that the author of this idea has no right to stay in Vanadzor. He also condemned the police for preventing people of neighboring villages from coming to the meeting. For example, about 50 residents of thevillageofDarpashad to walk to get to Vanadzor because the roads were intentionally shut down. Hovannisian urged the police never again to violate the basic rights of free assembly.

Raffi Hovannisian concluded his tour in Gyumri, where he was welcomed by a delirious crowd of more than ten thousand people. Addressing the residents of Gyumri and other communities of the Shirak region, President-elect Hovannisian said: “On February 18, the people of Gyumri shaped this victory, and soon their triumph will be formalized. But be ready for a long fight—whether it takes one day, one week, one month or one year. The governor of the Shirak region resigned, as will other regional governors in the near future, and we will create a powerful nation that attracts all emigrated Armenians back to their homeland.”

Ashtarak http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aTYwFS1ddrQ

Aparan http://www.a1plus.am/am/politics/2013/02/23/aparan

Spitak http://www.aravot.am/2013/02/23/206839/

Vanadzor http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=j4-2AadArmg

Gyumri http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wp01F6G7zG0

Raffi Hovannisian Headquarters