01:53, 19 April 2014

Armenia: DEM.AM demands from President to perform his constitutional duties

Participants of action against pension reform holding banners with the portrait of the Constitutional Court judge Felix Tokhyan. The banner says: “CC decision, clause 6: those who doesn’t want to pay can’t by obliged to do it”, “Tokhyan, we are with you!”. Yerevan, April 9, 2014. Photo by Armine Martirosyan for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

In Yerevan, about five thousand people took part in the protest action, organized by the initiative group DEM.AM outside the residence of the President of Armenia with a demand to guarantee enforcement of the decision of the Constitutional Court (CC) on the new pension system.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the new pension system was introduced in Armenia since January 1 this year. Citizens with monthly salary of up to 500,000 drams (about 40,000 Russian roubles) are obliged to deduct 5% into the pension system. Later, the CC suspended the new law.

On April 18 protesters chanted "DEM.AM" (means "I'm against!"), "We'll not pay!", "We're masters of our country!", "We demand!" and held state flags and posters reading "DEM.AM".

Hayk Avetisyan, a public activist, told reporters that the President should ensure that the decision of the CC once and forever abolished the compulsory deductions of these 5%.

Protesters assured that they would continue their actions until the law was officially cancelled.

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent