Arayik Harutyunyan Personally Prohibited Organizing Rally

'Hraparak' reports: 'A state committee for organizing events dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the Artsakh movement planned to hold a large rally on February 20 at the Renaissance Square in Stepanakert. However, it became clear yesterday that the President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, prohibited the aforementioned gathering. According to our information, the reason for the ban was that Harutyunyan was afraid the rally would turn into a movement demanding his resignation.

We have learned that an agreement had even been reached the day before for the rally to be organized at the level of civic organizations, and no political force would interfere in the organization or conduct of the rally, and there were to be no political speeches. However, apparently, even that did not reassure Arayik Harutyunyan, and he personally prohibited the rally dedicated to the anniversary of the Artsakh liberation movement. Last night, the committee held a session, the issue was discussed intensely, but it remained pending, and no final decision has yet been made. The official reason given for banning the gathering is the rise in coronavirus infection cases, although numbers have even decreased since February 10.'

More details in the newspaper.