21:37, 24 December 2020

In Yerevan, number of detainees rises to 77

Protester in the centre of Yerevan, December 23, 2020. Photo by Tigran Petrosyan for the Caucasian Knot

At the opposition rally held in the centre of Yerevan, the police have detained 77 people, some of whom have already been released, the police report.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a protest action with the demand of the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been launched in front of the Armenian government building. The police reported 69 people detained at the protest action.

According to the updated information, 77 participants of the protest action in Yerevan were taken to police stations, the international news agency "News-Armenia" reports with reference to Edgar Djanoyan, the deputy chief of the Armenian Police Department for Public Relations and Information.

Many of the detained protestors have already been released. "77 detainees is a total figure, but many of them have already been set free," the RIA "Novosti" quoted the police officer as saying. The protesters left the building of the Armenian government in the centre of Yerevan, and some of them moved to the opposite side of Republic Square, where the stage and tents were arranged.

The Armenian opposition raised the issue of the Nikol Pashinyan's resignation immediately after the signing of the peace agreement with Azerbaijan, which entered into force on November 10. The consideration of the above-mentioned initiative by the Armenian parliament is being hindered by the martial law still in force in the country. Both the President of Armenia and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II called on Nikol Pashinyan to resign. The Prime Minister himself said that he was ready to resign if the people demanded that. At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan refused to consider the actions in Yerevan an expression of popular protest.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 24, 2020 at 03:38 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.