Transparency International Anti-corruption Center (TIAC) held a press conference at Friday Press Club on the Amendments to the "Law on Conducting Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations of the Republic of Armenia" on May 21, 2008.Parliamentarian Zaruhi Postanjyan, TIAC chairwoman Amalia Kostanyan and Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Branch chairman Artur Sakunts addressed the journalists and answered their questions during the press conference.

The speakers reflected on this year's March 17 amendments to law, adopted in 2004 under the immediate impact of March 1 events and requirements of PACE Resolution 1609 (2008), adopted by first reading on May 20. If March 17 amendments restricted the Armenian citizens' constitutional right on conducting meetings, assemblies, rallies and demonstrations, the latest amendments aim to mitigate the mentioned restrictions. The keynoters spoke against the newly proposed amendments, mentioning that PACE resolution considered them to be unacceptable and characterized May 20 parliamentary voting as a deal between the Armenian authorities and Venice Commission. TIAC, as its chairwoman stated, together with other organizations a working group was set up to follow the implementation of the mentioned resolution, which would not allow the authorities "to throw dust in international community's eyes."