Epress.am News from Armenia
The picket organized by the opposition group Armenian National Congress (HAK) continues next to the Government Guest House on 47 Mashtots Ave. (near the Matenadaran). At this time, the Council of Europe is organizing a Forum for the Future of Democracy in the building.
HAK youth activists came dressed for the occasion: they are wearing black shirts with names of political prisoners (such as Nikol Pashinyan) in Armenia on them, as well as wearing handcuffs and having their mouths taped show, an obvious statement, in their opinion, of the lack of freedom of speech or expression in the country. The activists are also holding photos of political prisoners. Furthermore, the protestors — standing on the other side of the street — have also brought with them a four-panel gate that was formed into a cage then opened up, fence-like, to symbolize the prisoners behind bars. Naturally, officers didn’t allow protestors to move the gate closer to the venue.
As reported earlier, officers didn’t allow youth activists to hand out information packages to forum participants. Nevertheless, according to an Epress.am correspondent on the ground, the activists were able to get a few packages to the hands of some of the delegates.
Note that participating in the picket is National Assembly deputy Zaruhi Postanjyan.