VIDEO: Tense Situation Near Former Ministry of Defense Building, Arrests Made

A tense situation has arisen during the efforts to evict residents from the former Ministry of Defense building. According to a Sputnik Armenia correspondent at the scene, law enforcement officers have detained citizens on the grounds of obstructing police work and failing to comply with legal demands.

This marks the second incident of detentions today. Previously, police apprehended nearly two dozen individuals.

Starting early this morning, dozens of police officers have been engaged in removing residents who have settled in the former Ministry of Defense building. In May 2022, the government transferred the building to the balance of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia. Since September 2022, families (primarily from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds) have gradually moved into the building.

Residents claim that between 150 to 200 families are living there. Throughout this period, they have not paid rent for housing or electricity (the building lacks water and gas). Citizens had blocked the Yerevan-Ararat highway on January 23, demanding the restoration of power that had been cut off on January 20, but they did not achieve any significant results. No one came to negotiate with them, and the police managed to reopen the road.