Epress.am News from Armenia
Police officers prohibited members of the initiative Army in Reality and four mothers of slain soldiers to approach the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Alexander Spendiaryan, where there was a gala concert to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of Armenia's Armed Forces.
Rally participants demonstrating under the slogan "No to violence and killings in the army" today at 4:45 pm gathered near Aram Khachaturian's statue, where about a dozen police officers awaited them, forming a human chain and preventing demonstrators from approaching the opera building.
Later, when demonstrators attempted to approach the building from Mashtots Blvd., police used force, pushing and shoving the peaceful demonstrators.
At 5:15 pm, demonstrators gathered near the back entrance of the building, but again a dozen police officers blocked their way.
Later, demonstrators were allowed to enter Liberty Square (adjacent to the opera building) to rally.
Well-known activist Vardges Gaspari was detained by police.