Epress.am News from Armenia
Protestors today decided to stage a sit-in at the square on Gyumri’s Sayat-Nova street, demanding police unblock the Gyumri-Yerevan road.
Speaking to Epress.am, sit-in participant Vahagn Khachatryan said average citizens joined the protestors today.
“Here, people were continuing and were promising that they won’t leave until the police remove the blockade and allow the drivers to move freely. People here were staging a sit-in, even bringing food from home,” he said.
Recall, owners of cars with Georgian plates are protesting the dissolution of a legal loophole that allowed them to pay significantly lower import taxes on vehicles imported from Georgia. Today, they had planned to drive to Yerevan to continue their protests outside the government building; however, the roads were blocked by local police.
Asparez Journalists’ Club Chair Levon Barseghyan told Epress.am that an hour ago people decided to block the Peace roundabout leading to Sayat-Nova St., which resulted in a major traffic jam.
“A few hours ago, Prosperous Armenia MP Martun Grigoryan came, spoke with police; however, they didn’t give any clear answers as to why they’ve blocked the roads,” he said.
As of publication, police had opened Sayat-Nova St., which was the main request of sit-in participants. Thus, protestors are now beginning to leave the area.