Freedom Square, Yerevan

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The Freedom Square or Liberty Square ( hy, Ազատության հրապարակ, ), also known as Opera Square and Theatre Square (Թատերական հրապարակ, ''T'aterakan hraparak'') until 1991, is a town square located in Kentron (Center) district of Yerevan, Armenia. The square is part of the Yerevan Opera Theater complex, located just to the south of the main opera building, between the opera park and the Swan lake. Along with the Republic Square, the Freedom Square is one of the two main squares in central Yerevan. It is bordered with four streets: Tumanyan Street, Teryan Street, Sayat Nova Avenue and Mashtots Avenue. The statues of writer Hovhannes Tumanyan and composer Alexander Spendiaryan are located in the square.

In politics

Due to a tradition of demonstrations at the square, it has been described as a "symbol of democracy" in Armenia.

The square can hold an estimated 40,000, 42,000–45,000 to 50,000 people.

1988: Karabakh movement

The semi-circular square is known for its prominent role in modern history of Armenia. Since the Karabakh movement in February 1988, the Freedom Square has become a center of popular demonstrations. To suppress the demonstrations the square was closed down several times within 1988 by Soviet police and military forces.

Post-election protests

After Armenia's independence in 1991 the square has been the main location of anti-government rallies, especially following presidential elections in 1996, 2003, 2008, and 2013.

In the aftermath of the disputed 2008 presidential election, thousands of supporters of opposition leader and Armenia's first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan gathered in the square and began sit-ins. In the early morning of March 1, 2008 these peaceful protests were violently dispersed by the police and the square was closed down for civilians. For around 20 days, the square remained under occupation by police and armed forces to enforce the state of emergency. Subsequently, it was closed down for rallies for over three years, until March 17, 2011 when Ter-Petrosyan's Armenian National Congress staged a large rally.

Underground parking lot

On August 28, 2008 the Armenian government made a decision to start a construction of an underground parking lot beneath the square to relieve the surrounding streets where parked cars often complicate the traffic. The opposition claimed the decision was intended to prevent demonstration there, although the government denied these allegations. The three-storey parking lot for up to 500 cars was opened on May 24, 2010 in attendance of Mayor Gagik Beglaryan and President Serzh Sargsyan. The project cost about $10.5 million.

Gallery

File:Karabakh movement demonstration at Yerevan Opera square (4).jpg, Karabakh movement, 1988
File:Armenian Presidential Elections 2008 Protest Day 5 - Opera Square night.jpg, 2008 Armenian presidential election protests: Thousands of protesters at Liberty Square on a typical evening (February 24)
File:Armenian Presidential Elections 2008 Protest Day 5 - Opera Square tents.jpg, 2008 protests: Tents set up
File:Armenian Presidential Elections 2008 Protest Day 11 - Opera Square water cleaning.jpg, 2008 protests: A water tanker cleans Opera Square of debris and blood after the government's crackdown
File:Armenian Presidential Elections 2008 Protest Mar 21 - Opera Square general view.jpg, 2008 protests: Riot police and army occupy and block access to Liberty Square as well as to other major squares in Yerevan, March 21
File:April 8 2011 ANC protest Yerevan.JPG, 2011 Armenian protests
File:Raffi Hovannisian 22 Feb 2013.jpg, 2013 Armenian protests
File:Հոկտեմբերի 10, Ազատության հրապարակ.JPG, 10.10.2014

References

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Squares in Yerevan