ArmeniaNow The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) is holding its next rally in Yerevan on March 1, the third anniversary of the deadly street violence. The coming rally, according to some opinions, may turn into a popular rebellion.

Authorities have taken preventive measures to preclude such developments. According to the ANC, police officers go door to door trying to persuade people not to participate in the Tuesday rally. The opposition alliance issued a special statement in connection with such reports from its members in Yerevan’s Erebuni district. It also said that consultations were recently hosted by chief of Yerevan’s police Nerses Nazaryan who ordered all units to prevent the opposition rally from turning into a well-attended event.

However, there is also a tendency to look for those “responsible” for the socio-economic ills of Armenia. On Friday evening, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan suddenly held a two-hour press conference for leading TV channels during which he sought to clarify the government’s economic policies. In it he commented on predictions about whether he will occupy the post of prime minister until the May 2012 parliamentary polls. “I do not think it right to waste time on such forecasts,” said Sargsyan.

At the same time, unlike his ministers in charge of the economic block of issues, the premier would not insist that the consequences of the crisis are overcome. “We are no longer allowed to work according to old categories, old methods lead to old solutions, and the entire world is now looking for new solutions,” PM Sargsyan stressed.

The prime minister did not elaborate on what decisions he meant. But it might be that it is those solutions or decisions that have caused Russia’s discontent. The opposition Hraparak newspaper had alleged that Russia demanded that President Serzh Sargsyan dismiss the premier from his job threatening not to work with the Armenian government unless a change was made. The paper concluded that President Sargsyan has decided to persuade the Russians to put up with Premier Sargsyan. (ArmeniaNow contacted presidential spokesman Armen Arzumanyan who said "we do not comment on nonsense”).

Nevertheless, it is obvious that Tigran Sargsyan may become the man “responsible” for discontent in Armenia on the eve of the active political season.

Meanwhile, the ANC is preparing for a “landmark rally”, says its coordinator Levon Zurabyan. Zurabyan believes that an unprecedented situation has been created in the country where on the one hand there is a growing social protest, and on the other hand radical sentiments are becoming prevalent among young people. As the senior opposition representative noted, the ANC is starting an “active rally season” in order “to compel the government” to opt for early parliamentary and presidential elections. Zurabyan said he observed an emerging “social rebellion”, and in this situation, the ANC can help the implementation of the demands of different population groups through dialogue, if the authorities are also ready for that.