Thousands in Yerevan March on Presidential Palace to “Reclaim”
Armenia’s Independence
Narek Aleksanyan
20:02, September 21, 2013
This afternoon, on Armenian Independence Day, a few thousand marchers
took to the street in Yerevan in a civic initiative to reclaim
Armenia’s independence and to voice their opposition to President
Sargsyan’s recent announcement that the country intends to join the
Russian-led Customs Union.
The marchers, from various political affiliations and stripes,
assembled in Yerevan’s Liberty Square and then made their way down
Northern Boulevard to Republic Square.
As the ranks of the marchers swelled, they took over one half of
Amiryan Street despite the best efforts of the police to confine the
protestors to the sidewalk.
A number of minor scuffles broke out between the marchers and the cops
along the protest route.
More police were called in to confine the marchers along one sidewalk
of Mashots Avenue as the throng made its way towards Baghramyan Avenue
and the Presidential Palace.
The cops and Special Unit Forces were stretched to the limit as the
marchers, mainly young people, circumvented police barricades,
reaching the intersection at the National Assembly.
There a cordon of police formed a human chain and held back the
protestors from advancing further.
In the meantime, a convoy of black SUV’s was seen leaving the
Presidential Palace.
Once the convoy had fled the scene, the police opened the barricade,
allowing protestors to assemble opposite the now empty Presidential
Palace.