The international public's response to the Armenian Genocide Centennial events has demonstrated that the process of recognition has entered a new phase, Armenian Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan said on April 27.
The given events have shown that Armenians can succeed in everything if they join efforts, he said. Sahakyan thanked all the volunteers, politicians, public figures who helped organize the events at a high level.
When asked by opposition MO Nikol Pashinyan whether an amnesty will be proclaimed in the country on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, Sahakyan replied that he has no such information because there have been no discussions. Nevertheless, Sahakyan does not rule out possible amnesty.
According to the media reports, an amnesty was planned for April, however, the authorities have decided to postpone it following the arrest of the Founding Parliament members.
The authorities decided not to release them before the April 24 events because they were afraid the Founding Parliament leader Zhirayr Sefilyan and his supporters would have hindered the centennial events. The Founding Parliament seeks to shift the power in Armenia under the slogan "Centennial of Genocide Without Regime."