Protests in Moscow Demand Release of Armenian Prisoners

A peaceful protest demanding the release of Armenian prisoners has been ongoing in Moscow for the twelfth consecutive day. According to Armenpress, the protests are being held outside the embassies of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since January 15, protesters have been gathering in front of these institutions, holding banners that read “Release the prisoners of the Artsakh war,” with the aim of raising awareness about the issue and informing the public.

The initiative is led by Armenians residing in Russia, spearheaded by political science candidate Grigor Ketzian, who announced an indefinite hunger strike on January 25 as part of the protest, appealing to the President of Russia.

In compliance with pandemic regulations, individual protests are being conducted instead of mass gatherings. “Conducting an individual protest today is the only legal form, as any mass event is prohibited by law due to the pandemic in Russia. Therefore, we are holding individual protests in shifts in front of these institutions, demanding the implementation of point eight of the trilateral agreement. At this moment, we clearly understand that only the Russian side can resolve this issue,” said protest participant David Tonoyan in an interview with Armenpress, emphasizing that their sole demand is the return of the prisoners, without any other political context or requirements in their actions.