Police counts 41 detainees during protests against café demolition in Yerevan

Policemen have detained 41 protesters of the actions against the demolition of cafés held in Freedom Square in Yerevan; 25 detainees have already been released, the Armenian Police have informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 14, the owners and the staff of the cafés appointed for demolition in central Yerevan by the authorities, tried to prevent the special machinery from crushing the premises, but the two cafés have been demolished. During the skirmishes of protesters with the police, four persons were injured. Initially, 19 detainees were reported, 17 of whom were soon released.

After the initial detention of 19 protesters, policemen detained 22 more, the press service of the Armenian Police told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"As of 9:00 p.m. local time, six of them were released, as well as two out of the earlier detained 19 persons," said a police source.

The city authorities intend to continue demolishing the cafés in Freedom Square of Yerevan, despite violent protests. They insist that the territory around the Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre was built up voluntarily; and the surroundings should be returned to their historical appearance. In their turn, protesters assert that the café demolition will make over 200 people jobless.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 14, 2019 at 09:18 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.