Epress.am News from Armenia
Earlier this afternoon, about a couple dozen people formed a human chain and blocked a major thoroughfare in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. They stood outside the National Assembly, effectively blocking traffic on Baghramyan Ave. for at least a few minutes.
As reported by an Epress.am correspondent on the scene, the protestors were all members of a single family, the Isajanyan family. The mainly women and children gathered were voicing their complaints against police impunity.
“We have a workshop at 10 Mkoyan in Masiv district. We collect electrical motors. There are fruit trees growing near the workshop. That piece of land likewise belongs to us. This morning, police surrounded the area and prohibited us from entering. They were insisting that a road is going to go through that area. They forbid us from filming their activities, they snatched the video camera, while simultaneously shoving and hitting us. The children have received bruises,” explained the cousin in the family, not wishing to identify herself.
The police then forced the protestors to clear the street, pushing one of the old women to the ground in the process. Road traffic resumed as normal. The Epress.am correspondent said those officers who had used force quickly left the area.
Later, the police approached the Isajanyans and invited a family member to come into the parliament building. The aunt in the family went and didn’t come out for a long time. At that time, police approached the protesting family and said “their issue has been resolved.” After waiting for about half an hour, the family members left.