ARF Western US Central Committee Chair Comments of Armenia Developments

ARF Western US Central Committee Chairman Dr. Viken Hovsepian

GLENDALE—The dramatic movement against the raising of electricity rates in Armenia that is engulfing the streets of Yerevan during the past 48 hours has had its reverberations in the Diaspora, especially within the Greater Los Angeles Armenian community.

The fast-paced events, which included a violent dispersion of protesters early Tuesday morning by Armenia’s police force, which used water cannons and brute force, has also earned the condemnation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which issued an announcement Tuesday calling those tactics unacceptable.

Asbarez contacted the chairman of the ARF Western US Central Committee, Dr. Viken Hovsepian, who explained what the party and community must do in the face of the growing movement in Armenia.

“We are impressed by the maturity and the leadership of the initiators of this civic movement. The mode of operation that they have adopted and their approaches instill confidence that their future steps and decisions will be guided by the notion of protecting the interests of the people and the homeland,” said Hovsepian.

“We condemn and deem unacceptable the use of brute force against demonstrators on Tuesday morning by the police. We join those voices who are demanding that the police officers and their commanders who initiated the violence against journalists and protesters be held accountable for their actions,” added ARF leader.

“The Armenian community of Los Angeles is connected to the people of Armenia and cannot be indifferent toward the injustices being forced against the people of our homeland and is prepared to take concrete steps to buttress its solidarity. We have the moral obligation to be in front lines of that solidarity effort,” emphasized Hovsepian.