19:55, 19 April 2018

Police prevent demonstrators from approaching Armenian government building

Participants of the action in Yerevan, April 19, 2018. Photo by Tigran Petrosyan for the "Caucasian Knot"

The police would not let oppositionists to approach the building of the Armenia's Govt, where a parliament session was held under Serzh Sargsyan's chairmanship. The protesters called on policemen to lay down their arms; drivers of passing by cars supported them with horns.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Nikol Pashinyan, an MP and the oppositional leader, announced a start of the "peaceful revolution" after on April 17, the former president Serzh Sargsyan was elected Prime Minister of Armenia. Today, in Yerevan, 122 protesters were detained. Oppositionists and policemen accused each other of provocations.

The action under the motto "Use your car horn against Serzh!" has created a huge noise all over Yerevan, Mr Pashinyan, who is also the leader of the "Civil Accord" Party, has stated. According to organizers, several thousand people took part therein.

On April 18, oppositionists promised rewards to policemen, who would join and support demonstrators – 10,000 US dollars to the first one to join protesters; and USD 2,000 to the rest of them. It is unknown so far, whether anyone of them has agreed.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, at today's sitting of the Cabinet, Sargsyan has rejected the house presented to him by the government on March 29. The decision to present Sargsyan with a house had angered citizens.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent