Tension at the Russian Embassy: Scuffles Erupt Between Relatives of Captives and Police

In Yerevan, near the Russian Embassy, a protest was held today, June 29, by the parents and relatives of soldiers held captive in Khtsaberd. At one point, the situation became tense, leading to scuffles between police and participants of the protest.

Relatives of the captives are demanding a meeting with the Russian ambassador. They expressed frustration that they had been there for about an hour without knowing whether anyone would meet with them or if the ambassador was present.

“Call them to come. Can’t they meet for 15 minutes? If their children were captives, I wonder if they would act the same way,” said one of the parents.

One police officer urged the crowd to avoid creating unnecessary tension. After some time, clashes and arguments broke out between the parents of the captives and the police. The parents attempted to enter the embassy. One of the mothers began to feel unwell.

It is important to note that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during an online press conference, attributed responsibility to the Russian peacekeeping mission, stating that “over 90 percent of the established captives were taken after the deployment of Russian peacekeepers and within their area of responsibility.” Following this, the relatives of the captives began their protest actions in front of the Russian consulate in Gyumri.