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