Activists Protesting Mandatory Pension System Detained by Yerevan Police

Another protest by pressure group Dem Em against the mandatory funded pensions system outside the RA Ministry of Finance building earlier today turned tense.

The demonstration began with short speeches and chants of "Shame!", "We are the owners of our country" and "We are against," which drowned out the occasional cries of "Serzhik, go away!" (referring to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan).

"After the Constitutional Court's first procedural decision, it was announced that if the law is recognized as being constitutional, three months' contributions could be deducted immediately. Naturally, these rumors were false and unfounded. Even the Constitutional Court's Chief of Staff explained that no one under no law can make deductions from the past 3 months' salaries. Many employers, falling in a panic, decided to retain this amount from [employees’] salaries, not to transfer it to the bridge account, to keep it in their hands, so, if necessary, the citizen would not feel the huge impact on his wallet," said one of the Dem Em representatives. 

According to protestors, the hasty collection of contributions also aims to replenish the (state) budget.

When demonstrators decided to approach the ministry building, police officers formed a human chain . In the meantime, demonstrators were demanding the minister come down and speak with them. They refused to speak with RA Minister of Finance David Sargsyan's representative. Later, however, the ministry issued a statement saying that Dem Em members refused to accept the ministry's proposal to submit their claims in writing. 

The number of demonstrators doubled, and due to police efforts, some of them ended up on the opposite side of the street. Law enforcement officials pushed not only demonstrators, but also members of the media.

Some demonstrators were detained. Subsequently, demonstrators marched toward the Kentron police station to secure the release of the detainees. The press service of the police said that among those detained are Eduard Minasyan, Hakob Arshakyan, and Davit Aghabekyan and that protocols for administrative violations were already drawn up.