On April 2 at 17.00 by the Aram Khachaturian’s Monument in Yerevan a rally
to support freedom of expression was to be held. The action was devoted to the
fifth anniversary since “A1+” was deprived of air. Its organizers intended to
plant 16 trees – “the freedom of speech path”, symbolizing 16 years of Armenia’s
independence. However, the Yerevan municipality did not permit holding the action.
As YPC was told by “A1+”, in the written reply of the city administration of
March 28, 2007 motivated the refusal saying that the conductance of the action
will interfere with the concert at the National Academic Theater of Opera and
Ballet. Meanwhile, the concert was scheduled to start at 19.00, while the action
was supposed to last only an hour. Moreover, the Khachaturian Monument is on
the other side of the Theater of Opera and Ballet, in front of Aram Khachaturian
Big Philharmonic Hall.
At the time appointed on April 2 a short rally was held by the statue, after
which the rally participants attempted to plant the trees. However, the representatives
of law enforcement bodies impeded this.
