Demonstrations against “structures of power” have began in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh. Protesters are demanding the resignation of the heads of these structures.
According to witnesses, several members of the National Security Service of Armenia physically assaulted two citizens as police stood by. The police then arrested not those who were assaulting, but the victims.
[Translation of speeches at rally in Stepanakert]
SPEAKER 1
I have been an opposition activist since 1993. And often times I have been alone. Today I am happy that you the youth are amongst us. I’m certain that by supporting each other, all of us united, armed with our minds, our culture, our experience, will, force, love, tolerance, loyalty, we will be able to build the nation of our dreams, where we are going to stay and live.
SPEAKER 2
Dear youth, we are not looking for enemies with then the power structures. Our enemy is on the other side of the border. Our only desire is to live happy and with the rule of law. To be happy here in Karabakh as Armenians are in Armenia. We, together, must be one nation, one Armenian. The concept of an Armenian and a Karabakhtsi must disappear. In Armenia, it is now embarrassing to say we are from Karabakh, from Artsakh. It leaves a different impression among them.
Dear compatriots, dear Armenians in Armenia, the truth is that we are all one. The same way you came out to the streets and had a revolution, now our youth is out. We too wish to live happily like you. We are not looking for enemies in Artsakh. The saying is that if you look, you will find. But that is not our desire. Individuals within the power structure are not our enemies. Although they always try to create animosity. They try to oppress the youth, but that cannot be allowed. Isn’t it true that when the April War broke out we united as one? And now, when the war has ended, we again begin to stab each other in the back. Let’s end this. We hear that during one evening this guy beat up that guy, on another street they beat up some other guy. We demand from the President the removal of these power structures.
Mr Sahakyan, I have heard many times that your advisers come to you and tell you that everything is well. But all is not well Mr. President. All will be well when you change all the structures of power. I know your mindset is different. But this is the 21st-century and you have to change the way you see things. You can only create a name for yourself through respect, just like Nikol Pashinyan. You create a name for yourself only through respect, with the rule of law. There was a time when you yourself stated that in the 90s people created a name for themselves in an environment of fear. So why do you use that environment of fear now? Today, people who participated in the war are afraid to talk about their pensions. They are afraid they will get hurt. What kind of an ideology is that?
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Ստեփանակերտում քաղաքացիները բողոքում են ուժային կառույցների կամայականություններից և պահանջում են դրանց ղեկավարների հրաժարականը։
Հունիսի 1-ին Ստեփանակերտում ԱԱԾ մի խումբ աշխատակիցներ, ըստ ականատեսների, ծեծի են ենթարկել երկու քաղաքացու՝ ոստիկանների լռելյայն ներկայությամբ։ Ոստիկանները բերման են ենթարկել ոչ թե ծեծողներին, այլ ծեծվածներին։
