International and cost around €1.4 million. They were opened in September 2007. Christmas tree A Christmas tree has been installed at the square every December since at least 1950. In 2020, a month after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war ended, the Yerevan City Hall announced that no Christmas tree and other decorations will be installed at the square to honor the memory of the fallen soldiers. Drinking fountain The drinking fountain (also known as pulpulak), located next to the museums' buildings, consists of seven fountains and is thus called Yot aghbyur ("Seven springs"). It was originally installed in 1965 and renovated in 2010. Notable events Parades During the Soviet era, military and non-military parades were held in the square on May 1 (the International Workers' Day), May 9 (Victory Day, until 1969) and November 7 (October Revolution Day). The leadership of Soviet Armenia stood at the podium, below Lenin's statue. During Jubilee parades celebrating the anniversaries of the foundation of Soviet Armenia (1961, 1970, 1980), a wooden extension was added to the podium, in order to accommodate all the guests from the national government. The last of these parades were held in 1988. Military parades celebrating the independence of Armenia have been held on September 21 of 1996 (5th anniversary), 1999 (8th anniversary), 2006 (15th anniversary), 2011 (20th anniversary), 2016 (25th anniversary). Smaller military parades were also held at the square during the First Karabakh War, on May 28 of 1992 and 1993. Concerts On September 30, 2006 French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour performed at the square. On April 23, 2015, the Armenian-American rock band System of a Down gave their first-ever concert in Armenia in Republic Square. The free concert was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and was attended by thousands. On June 8, 2017, Russian hip-hop artist Timati gave a free concert in the square, which was attended by more than 40,000 people. On October 6, 2019, the Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren performed at the square as an opening act of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT). On September 30 and 31, 2021 following Hayko's death, his songs were played on loudspeakers at the square. Political demonstrations Soviet period On April 24, 1965, large demonstrations took place in the square and elsewhere in Yerevan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. On the evening of January 20, 1974, on the eve of