VIDEO: Pashinyan Addresses Clashes Outside the National Assembly

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, attributed the clashes between police and members of the "Tavush for the Homeland" movement, which occurred outside the National Assembly, to Catholicos Karekin II and former President Robert Kocharian. He made this statement during a session in the National Assembly while discussing the events that took place on June 12.

“There was an attack on the police by participants of the movement led by the Catholicos and Robert Kocharian. The police's response was lawful and professional; in similar cases, the police will act accordingly. The protesters attempted to violently breach the police's cordon to assault the highest legislative body of the country. The police defended the legislative institution of the Republic of Armenia and the statehood of Armenia. A person with the title of bishop told the police beforehand to remove their helmets, saying nothing threatened them. Shortly after, that same person threw stones at those officers,” Pashinyan stated.

He emphasized that this is all one needs to know about the two high-ranking clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The Prime Minister noted that 18 police officers and 83 citizens were injured in the clashes.