Armenian National Assembly has voted down the draft decision to set up an ad hoc committee of 1 March incidents. 47 parliamentarians voted for the draft decision, while another 56 voted against it and one abstained. As expected, the factions of the Republican Party and Orinats Yerkir coalition parties voted against the draft decision.
Earlier, parliamentarian from Heritage opposition party, Alexander Arzumanyan said that no committee is able to inquire into the incidents of March 1 as long as there is parliament majority represented by the Republican Party of Armenia. He recalled that the bloodshed of March 1 2008 happened when RPA was in power, so it is naive expecting any impartial assessment of those tragic events fro RPA.
The ANC started organizing rallies in Yerevan on Feb 20 2008 protesting against the presidential election of 2008. Post-election unrest and clashes with police on March 1 2008 resulted in 10 deaths and over 200 wounded. Those responsible for the tragedy have not been revealed yet. Dozens of people were arrested after March 1 charged with organization of mass disorders.