Officials Employed 'Encouragement' Measures to Attract People to Pashinyan's Rally: 'Hraparak'

Officials from the government resorted to various 'encouragement' measures to bring people to Pashinyan's rally yesterday. In some communities, money was distributed, while in others, promises were made to wipe out debts in 'notebooks'. For example, on behalf of Ararat Governor Razmik Teyvonyan, it was decided to offer food to those coming to the March 1 rally — kebabs were served on buses headed from villages to Yerevan, encouraging people to arrive in high spirits, enjoying kebabs on their way to the rally.

The rally was somewhat somber, of course; many could not hear Pashinyan's speech as people had grown tired of the same texts and unproven statements.