A protest march demanding the resignation of Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan kicked off in Yerevan on Tuesday evening.
The march, organized by the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement, started from the area close to Aram Manoukian statue in downtown Yerevan at 6pm.
Earlier on Tuesday, opposition activists gathered in front of the 3rd government complex to prevent Pashinyan from entering the building. The premier managed to enter the building amid the chants “Traitor!”.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun) Supreme Council of Armenia member Ishkhan Saghatelyan announced during the protest that they were to march to the buildings of the National Security Service and Police of Armenia.
"Everything is crystal clear; we will not allow Nikol Pashinyan to establish dictatorship in our country relying on the police support. We will not allow dictatorship of one man to be established in our country through state terror. Dear police officers, I appeal to you, wake up, do not serve the madman, do not fulfil the illegal orders of the madman, stand by the people to save our country!” Saghatelyan said.
Drivers expressed support to protesters through signals as they reached Koryun Street. Ishkhan Saghatelyan said that in parallel to the march opposition activists blocked traffic on some streets in Yerevan in an act of disobedience.
The participants of the march reached the police building with large police forces deployed in the area. Opposition politicians laid flowers in front of the statue near the building.
“Police have become a tool of the current authorities to pressure its citizens and use violence against them,” Saghatelyan said, condemning the police brutality against protesters earlier today and stating that they will be held to account.
Also, he read out the names of the police officers who had committed illegal actions during the protest. Ishkhan Saghatelyan called on policemen not to abide by illegal orders.