The leaders of Armenia's three main opposition parties have agreed to hold a joint "urgent" rally in Yerevan next week in response to recent government attacks on opposition leader Gagik Tsarukian.
The announcement of the February 20 demonstration comes after the leaders of the Armenian National Congress and Heritage met late on February 15 with Tsarukian, head of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).
The meeting was held in response to President Serzh Sarkisian's remark to leaders of the ruling Republican Party that Tsarukian is "evil" and must be excluded from the political process.
The BHK is the second-largest party in parliament.
Shortly after Tsarukian warned Sarkisian to end plans to rewrite parts of the constitution or face street protests, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian ordered officials to probe allegations that Tsarukian owes large sums in back taxes.
Tsarukian was undeterred, saying on February 13 that "I am taking up the gauntlet and am going to fight until victory."
He called on supporters to take to the streets and call for Sarkisian's ouster.
