Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenian citizens protesting a Yerevan City Hall decision to prohibit street trade in the Armenian capital today once again demonstrated in front of city hall. Recall, that about a dozen or so people have been gathering in front of the building since last Wednesday, asking for the law to be annulled.
On Saturday, police prohibited protestors from getting close to the building, saying that it was not a workday; however, protestors were “invited” to come back to city hall on Monday.
Today, however, police once again blocked the area around Yerevan City Hall, as well as not allowing demonstrators to cross the street and approach the building. People, thus, had gathered in the park on Grigor Lusavorich street, asking that their voices of protest be allowed to be heard near the municipality building. Police, however, were urging them to get off the sidewalk and go into the park.
“We haven’t come to stand in the park; we’ve come to protest near city hall,” shouted the demonstrators.
Epress.am asked Lieutenant Hakobyan who was managing police operations to explain the reasons for their decision.
“I am carrying out my duties,” he said, without providing further details.
Then, a few moments ago, protestors, cutting through the police wall, crossed on the sidewalk in front of Yerevan City Hall; however, people are unable to come closer to the building entrance. Police have once again formed a wall of officers and are prohibiting protestors from moving forward.