VIDEO: Red Berets Use Force to Detain Citizens Blocking Streets

Red berets began forcibly detaining citizens participating in a civil disobedience action on Abovyan and Teryan streets. One citizen was knocked to the ground, then several officers picked him up and put him into a police vehicle. Meanwhile, one journalist complained that a police officer shoved and threw their operator. A police officer responded that it was probably during an operation, saying, “Don’t provoke, let us do our job.”

It should be noted that since this morning, streets in Yerevan have been blocked following a call from Bagrat Archbishop of the Tavush Diocese. Specifically, Abovyan, Teryan, and Vardanants streets are closed.

The Archbishop called upon participants at a rally held the previous day to initiate “total strikes, protests, and paralyze the entire city and various regions of Armenia from 8 AM” to express dissent against evil and falsehood. He also mentioned that he will visit creative unions tomorrow morning, including the Writers’ Union, the Artists’ Union, the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of History, and others.

The Archbishop encouraged those wishing to support to come, register, and volunteer: “Many people have joined us these days. I am confident that when our plans become specific regarding the process of distrust and the Prime Minister's candidate, we will be here with several hundred thousand,” he said.