Ter-Petrosyan: Armenian opposition will continue lawful protests

Despite all the authorities' attempts to translate political struggle into violent actions, the opposition will stick to its principles of holding protests exclusively within the law. This was stated by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, first president of Armenia and leader of the opposition, on September 2 in a press conference.

"The presidential election was forged, and we'll try to convince the world that the power not elected by the nation has no right to rule the country," said Mr Ter-Petrosyan.

He reminded that release of 76 political prisoners is the precondition of his dialogue with the authorities.

At today's press conference, Levon Ter-Petrosyan has also presented three documents, which, by his definition, are of great value for opening a "monstrous plot" of the authorities against the opposition.

The first document presented to the press conference refers to the ruling of the first instance court of the Yerevan community "Center-Nork-Marash" passed "behind closed door" under presidency of Judge Vardanyan to allow, on the day of presidential election on February 19, the National Security Service to tap telephone conversations of Alexander Arzumanyan, head of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's central electoral office. Besides, a sanction was given to check Arzumanyan's correspondence and make outdoor surveillance of him.

Further, Levon Ter-Petrosyan presented a document, drafted by Arutyunyan, senior inspector of the special investigatory group, on the operation undertaken by law enforcement bodies in the morning on March 1, as a result of which the Freedom Square was cleared from the participants of sit-in strike. In particular, the document prescribed the start of the operation - 6 a.m.

The third document refers to presidential election of 1998. According to the demonstrated certificate signed by the head of the Yerevan address inquiry office, as of the election date Robert Kocharyan had no registration in Yerevan: "This document has historical value and is another proof that Robert Kocharyan had no Yerevan registration and was elected President under a forged certificate."

Levon Ter-Petrosyan has promised to hand all the three documents over to European institutions. In his belief, they give great value to such facts.