Epress.am News from Armenia
The roads from Gyumri and Vanadzor leading to Yerevan have been blocked by police, Gyumri-based Asparez Journalists’ Club Chair Levon Barseghyan told Epress.am. Gyumri and Vanadzor drivers of cars with Georgian plates today are preparing to organize a protest by driving from these cities to Yerevan and demonstrating outside the Government of Armenia building. However, police have blocked off the road.
Barseghyan said that since 7 am this morning in Gyumri, Sayat Nova St. and all intersections near it have been closed. This is the boulevard drivers were to have gathered on before driving to Yerevan together.
At this time, the protesting drivers are trying to negotiate with Heritage Party MPs Zaruhi Postanjyan and Stefan Safaryan, both of whom have been supportive to their cause; however, to no avail.
According to Barseghyan, police think they’re stupid (“they think we’re an ax or a blue rubber tube”).
“They’re the same police officers who prohibited us from blocking the Yerevan-Gyumri road during last week’s protest. Now they’re the ones blocking [the road] and they’re not giving us any sort of articulate explanation,” he said.
Recall, the drivers have been continuing their protests for 10 consecutive days, demanding authorities to review the laws related to custom fees on importing cars from Georgia.
Note, some Armenian media report that police have seized cars belonging to the protestors and members of the Heritage Party. However, MP Zaruhi Postanjyan denied these reports, saying they are surrounded by police and no one has moved. She also informed Epress.am that they are preparing to organize a rally at 1:30 pm today.