Identifier	Created	Classification	Origin
04YEREVAN1207	2004-05-25 06:10:00	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY	Embassy Yerevan

Cable title:

MAY 21 OPPOSITION RALLY CALM, NO NEW

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

					  UNCLAS YEREVAN 001207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AM
SUBJECT:  MAY 21 OPPOSITION RALLY CALM, NO NEW 
ARRESTS 
 
REF:  YEREVAN 1190

1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please treat
accordingly.

--------------------------

LARGE RALLY, BUT CALM

--------------------------

2. (SBU) Despite concerns raised by the May 20
preventive detentions (reftel), the May 21
opposition rally attracted roughly 12,000-15,000
participants, proceeded calmly, and was followed by
no new arrests. The opposition has called the next
rally for Friday, June 4.

--------------------------

COMMENT: NO NEWS FOR NOW

--------------------------

3. (SBU) The (relatively) large numbers of
protesters notwithstanding, the crowd never
displayed the "energy" that opposition leaders are
still hoping to generate -- and with the weekend
papers filled with yet more articles and editorials
on in-fighting and bickering among key opposition
leaders, it remains unlikely that they will be able
to garner significant support among the population.
ORDWAY