VIDEO: 'Even the Turks didn't block me' - Bishop was not allowed to enter Kiran

The leader of the Tavush Diocese and head of the 'Tavush for the Homeland' movement, Bishop Bagrat, was blocked by police forming a several-row barrier, preventing him from entering the village of Kiran.

"Why are you standing like this?" Bishop Bagrat asked the police, to which they responded that they were serving the Republic of Armenia.

Bishop Bagrat inquired why they were blocking his way, and the police explained that an operation was taking place, and entry to the village was not permitted. "Even the Turks didn’t block me, and now they say I have no right to go to the village. From now on, we should travel from village to village with passports," he remarked.

The Bishop mentioned how the police have been turned into a tool. "Morally, they have made these guys into something else; they have turned them into enemies that we have to deal with," said Bishop Bagrat.

Arthur Mkrtchyan, head of the regional department, approached the Bishop, congratulated him on his birthday, and mentioned that the National Security Service had issued a statement that entry was temporarily restricted, except for the village residents.

"I am a resident of the village and the head of the Diocese. Allow us to pass; we are going quietly to see the residents. Don’t create a problem. If the villagers can go, then we all should be allowed to go," said the Bishop.

Arthur Mkrtchyan responded, "We are not creating a problem; we cannot, it is temporarily suspended."