“Condemning violence”, “concern” and “political dialog” are the most popular words in political life in Armenia this week, with dozens of statements made by diplomats, international institutions and politicians commenting on the government’s crackdown of the pro-oppositional demonstration early this week.

While the country’s leadership called the opposition’s actions “political extremism” and speak of necessity of “constructive dialog” the oppositional parties qualified the April 13 events in which State force was applied as a “repression against people” and promised to renew calls for the President’s resignation.


Full story

The Ministry of Finance and Economics, on the assignment of the President of Armenia, has worked out a new project for developing real-estate loans in Armenia.

“Not only in Armenia but in the whole world mortgage is one of the main factors of economic development,” says the head of Financial Market Development and Currency Regulation Department of the Ministry of Finances and Economics Karen Tamazyan. “There are several classical options of mortgage. We will be following them in a version adjusted to Armenia.”

Full story

About a thousand marchers turned out in the rain Thursday to demonstrate against what they called police brutality following Tuesday’s clash on Bagramian Avenue.

Carrying slogans such as “No to police state” and “Freedom,” the protesters, most of them students, tied balloons on the fence near the parliament compound. The gesture was meant to show solidarity with those who were injured during the violence. Some of the demonstrators wore T-shirts with “I am the people” written on them.

Full story

Media in Yerevan wrote editorials about Tuesday’s clash between police and protestors (and journalists). Here, as compiled by www.armenialiberty.org, is a sampling of how the press reacted.

“Aravot” daily: Who has violated constitutional order? When our citizens use their constitutional right to hold peaceful gatherings and demonstrations it amounts [in the government’s view] to a breach of constitutional order for which they must be punished. This is what our authorities think.” The paper points out that Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently vetoed a government bill on public gatherings, saying that it would restrict on Russians’ freedom of assembly.

Full story