After their detention yesterday for announcing Friday’s opposition rally by megaphone and handing out leaflets in the city center, A1 Plus reports that supporters of the former first president, Levon Ter Petrosian, were released in the early hours of the morning. According to one of those detained, newspaper editor Nikol Pashinian, their release came thanks to the intervention of Ter Petrosian himself.

Nikol Pashinian, David Matevosian, Tevos Matevosian, Michael Hairapetian, Tigran Ter-Margarian. Petros Makeyan with his son Shogher Matevosian, and three other proponents of the “Alternative” Initiative were released at 3:20 a.m.

To remind, they were detained October 23 for distributing leaflets on the October 26 rally in Yerevan streets.

The participants of the march megaphoned the date and venue of the rally. At the intersection of Abovyan and Koryun streets some high-ranking police officials hand out their megaphone and asked to stop the march. The Alternative members presented to the policemen the provisions of the law stipulating such marches. They found the policemen’s request illegal. Afterwards, a heated argument occurred, special operation forces used tear gas against the participants and took them into custody.

They were welcomed with warm applauses and shouts by people assembled near the police department for eight hours, “Levon! Victory!

People embraced and congratulated each other on hard-won victory.

“We have said many times that we shall back Ter-Petrosian at the upcoming election. Ter-Petrosian is both a presidential nominee and a perfect partner for us. He spent a few hours in the police department with us. We were released thanks to the first president,” Pashinian said the moment he left the police department.

He thanked the presentees for support and stubborn struggle. “We were really encouraged by your shouts and realised that our efforts were not in vain. I call on you to continue our mission and struggle to the end if any of us is detained again.”

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The full post with video from A1 Plus of the release of the detainees early this morning is available on the 2008 Presidential Election Monitor Blog.