MAY 21 OPPOSITION RALLY CALM, NO NEW

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