Tense Situation: Demands for Punishment of Official Who Used Gas and Hit Sick Minor

A tense and explosive situation has been unfolding for the past two hours in the Aragatsotn Province, according to Shamshyan.com.

Residents of the village of Aragatsavan have blocked the road in protest, preventing the movement of vehicles. In a conversation with photographer Gagik Shamshyan, villagers stated, “We have resorted to this extreme measure because the patience of the entire village is exhausted. How low can a person sink to spray gas in the eyes of a minor with health issues and strike him multiple times with a baton, and the perpetrator is no less than an official who is considered a 'blind alley' for the villagers.”

“We will not open the road until not only a legal assessment is made, but also this so-called official, who is the head of community services in Aragatsavan, is held criminally responsible. It is people like him who tarnish the state apparatus,” they added.

“Currently, some policemen have arrived in the village, but instead of finding that scoundrel, they are trying to persuade us to open the road. We would not have blocked the road if there had been timely legal assessment of the actions of that official. The situation has escalated to the point that it seems the sea has risen to his knees. The whole village is in shock; how is it possible that a person, who is also dealing with serious health issues, is subjected to violence by someone referred to as Suren Torosyan, a community official?”

“Interestingly, this 'flabby' guy should go to the front line rather than create unrest in an entirely peaceful village. We want to believe that the police and other responsible structures will act consistently and hold him accountable for his inhumane actions. Otherwise, we will continue our protests in Republic Square, in front of the Government,” the villagers said.

Currently, negotiations are being conducted with the villagers by Alik Hakobyan, the head of the Aragatsotn regional division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Armen Harutyunyan, the head of the Talin police department, in order to convince the villagers to open the road. However, it has not yielded results yet, as the villagers have stated from the beginning, “our patience has run out.”