Hovannisian Ends Fast

On March 30, Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian ended his “Freedom Fast,” which was staged in Yerevan’s Freedom Square and lasted for 15 days.

He broke his fast with a piece of blessed bread offered by a priest, and in the presence of his wife Armenuhi, son Garin, friends, and supporters. He said he had neglected his family during his fast and now wished to be a “good father.” His daughter, Shushi, turns 18 on March 31.

Thousands of politicians, activists, and supporters visited Hovannisian during his fast, including U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, Armenia’s Speaker of Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan, Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan, members of the ARF Parliamentary bloc Lilit Galstian, Ardzvig Minasyan, and Vahan Hovhannesian, as well as ARF Eastern U.S. Chairperson Antranig Kasbarian. Celebrities also stopped by, and included singers Roupen Hakhverdyan, Forsh, and Vahan Artsruni.

“The initial expectation of my fast for freedom is one that the leadership of Armenia, as illegitimate as it is, has enough conscience and calculation to understand that we find ourselves in an emergency situation that requires emergency solutions,” Hovannisian had said during an interview with Armenian Weekly contributor Christian Garbis on the fifth day of his hunger strike. “It is necessary to return the power to the people through pre-term elections and take other steps that will serve to resolve the legal political socioeconomic and other challenges that Armenia faces today.”

Although his fast is over, Hovannisian said that his struggle against the status quo will continue.

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