Protesters in Yerevan demanded the release of David Minasyan.

Activists at a rally in Yerevan demanded the release of 18-year-old David Minasyan, who was arrested after the incident in a church involving the Prime Minister, or that a preventive measure not involving imprisonment be chosen for the young man.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, three suspects of hooliganism and interference in the activities of a political figure were detained in Yerevan after a conflict with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Church of St. Anna. After the liturgy, as the prime minister, accompanied by security, was heading for the exit, one of those present approached him and, saying, "Don't look at me like that!", made a sharp motion with his hand toward the prime minister, the newspaper writes. Two of the detainees are twin brothers, schoolchildren, and have already reached adulthood.

After the incident, 18-year-old high school seniors, twins David and Mikael Minasyan, and Gevorg Gevorgyan were detained. On April 1, the court granted the investigator's motion to arrest 18-year-old David Minasyan for two months under Part 1 of Article 297 of the RA Criminal Code (hooliganism) and Part 3 of Article 452 of the RA Criminal Code (interference with the lawful official or political activities of an official). Mikael Minasyan and a third defendant, Gevorg Gevorgyan, were released on bail and under written undertakings not to leave the country. On April 6, David Minasyan's classmates held a rally outside the RA Prosecutor General's Office demanding his freedom. They stated that "keeping a schoolchild in custody is a cruel measure" and that "justice should not turn into reprisals against young people."

On April 9, outside the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office, activists presented a demand to Armenian Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan to release David Minasyan or apply an alternative measure of restraint to him. They reported that they had collected over 4,000 signatures for a petition to Armenian Ombudsman Anahit Manasyan demanding her intervention in the situation, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

A two-hour silent protest took place on the afternoon of April 12 in the courtyard of St. Anne's Church. It was organized by the Youth Wing of the "AyaKve" National-Civic Union. During the protest, most of the young people had their hands tied and their mouths gagged, symbolizing the restriction of their freedom and rights. Others held posters with a photograph of David Minasyan and the following slogans: "Freedom for David Minasyan," "Armenian citizens are defenseless," "Everyone is with David Minasyan," "We demand freedom to pray in church," "This can happen to anyone tomorrow," and "When you trample on faith, don't expect respect."

Lawyer Lusine Martirosyan reported that on the day of his arrest, David Minasyan became ill, lost consciousness, and was hospitalized, then transferred to the Armavir Penitentiary. On April 3, Minasyan was transferred to the Abovyan Penitentiary, from where he was sent to the Abovyan Medical Center, and then hospitalized in the Yerevan Nairi Medical Center, where he remains to this day. The lawyer reported that a medical examination of Minasyan revealed a closed head injury and a concussion, and there has been no improvement in his condition to date.

AyaQue representative Anna Yaloyan emphasized that young people from all regions of Armenia came to Yerevan to participate in the event. "Our protest is silent, but it's a loud silence about the fact that everything that happened is abnormal, and human rights violations cannot be tolerated," the girl told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"It is necessary for the entire society to rise up for David Minasyan's freedom, which will be an indicator that it is possible to achieve justice and protect one's rights," said protest participant Saida Poghosyan.

"We came to the protest to demand justice for David Minasyan and the protection of his rights. He is not the instigator of the conflict – it all started when people in the church began to be roughly pushed and harassed, and this during the liturgy," emphasized protest participant and student Anahit Kogoryan.