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 Raffi Hovhannisian has already been wrapped up with his hunger strike. The suspension of the action was as ceremonial as its start, its name and the comments heard during that period (action’s relation with creed and politics).

Without emerging deep in those attributes, it’s worth mentioning that Raffi Hovhannisian’s farewell to hunger strike, in fact, is the final phase of the political mini process launched by the adoption of the coalition joint statement.

We used to say that the statement was a public obligation only – an obligation to avoid responsibility. In other words, the authorities have defined the game rules, which ruled out vote steal tactics. Thus, we used to predict that the statement was a challenge in address to the opposition - if they could come to a common conclusion and in the next phase could have it recorded with the authorities.

Before making assessments for the opposition and how well they managed to face those challenges, let’s move to some other events which happened after the adoption of the statement.

March 1st rally tops the list and Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s speech delivered there. Media called in social-populist and it was recorded that Armenian National Congress (ANC, HAK) leader adopted the manner of mobilizing the streets instead of appearing with solutions. Surely, this was a signal for the authorities, and a challenge to the opposition electorate anticipants. The latter didn’t make waiting.

Soon on March 3, “Heritage” faction stood next to a group of protesting civilians and in a clash with the police made it clear that they didn’t support Ter-Petrosyan’s manner of street monopoly.

Referring to the authorities, the response was on its highest level delivered by Serzh Sargsyan on March 12. President used to say that depending on the manner and method of the political competition, the authorities would react adequately. Thus, the authorities have left the choice of the game rules to the opposition.
Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s remarks soon appeared in the rally of March 17. Some were surprised, some could anticipate it. Ter-Petrosyan said he preferred “non-shocking revolution” and recorded that he preferred dialogue, elections and soft rules with the authorities.

Surely, the power leadership hailed this (ensuring uninterrupted access to the Liberty Square). But it turned out that was vital, but still not sufficient term to clear rules with the power.
On March 17 Raffi Hovhannisian appeared with an unprecedented action before the rally. He declared a hunger strike through broadly formulated requirements and occupied key positions in the political and information agenda. There were different comments and remarks over the action, but one thing was evident – the action was to mark its own place in the opposition field and demanded consideration with “Heritage” which HAK, chaired by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, refused to.
That denial and the propaganda war, having followed it, made “Heritage” a political factor. And now, HAK needs to either dialogue with “Heritage” or leave the party to develop. By the way, it wasn’t Raffi’s action to contribute it, but March 17 rally leaving many people alarmed. To conclude, the leadership’s challenge is still on agenda. If the opposition doesn’t fix the rules, the game will surely be lost.