22:00, 15 March 2011

In Armenia, Raffi Ovannisyan, leader of "Heritage" Party, goes on hunger strike

Raffi Ovannisyan, leader of the oppositional "Heritage" Party, Deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia and former head of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yerevan, March 15, 2011. Photo by the "Caucasian Knot"

A termless hunger strike was announced by Raffi Ovannisyan, leader of the oppositional "Heritage" Party, Deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia and former head of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in protest against the situation in the country.

He announced his hunger strike during his speech in an open forum of his Party. He said that, in his opinion, it is the time for civic initiatives, while he personally could not tolerate what was happening in the country. "Our country is in an unprecedented and emergency situation," said the MP.

The leader of the "Heritage" touched on all spheres of life and noted that the education is politicized; the country suffers from "terrible inflation and epidemic of poverty"; and it all stems from political and legal permissiveness.

"Permissiveness and impunity are everywhere. It started not on March 1; however, this tragedy and unlawful attacks on citizens of Armenia indicate that the authorities have given up - by its behaviour - their constitutional liabilities," the RIA "Novosti" quotes Mr Ovannisyan as saying.