On April 24, Only Protocol Events Will Take Place, Says Nikol Pashinyan

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, in a live Facebook address to citizens, urged them not to participate in Easter celebrations, reminding that the Church has also issued a similar call.

The Prime Minister also referred to upcoming memorial days and holidays in the coming months: "We have April 24 coming up, and within the first ten days of May, we have two holidays: the Day of the Liberation of Shushi and the Day of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Our conclusion is that these events should also be limited; more accurately, citizen participation in any events should be restricted. Otherwise, we will face an uncontrollable outbreak of the pandemic.

"On April 24, only protocol events will take place, meaning that officials with protocol duties will carry them out. The same applies to May 8 and 9, and there will be no mass events associated with May 1," he said.

Pashinyan expressed hope that citizens would approach these decisions with understanding, as they are made for the sake of individuals and citizens, not against them. He emphasized the importance of individual responsibility in preventing the further spread of the pandemic.

"We will take measures to ensure that the state of emergency is respected as strictly as possible; on the other hand, I urge and request each one of us to remain within the logic and frameworks of that regime," the Prime Minister noted.