Tense Situation in Aragatsotn: Residents Block Section of Yerevan-Gyumri Highway

Today, April 27, a tense situation has arisen in the Aragatsotn province. For over 1.5 hours, residents from more than 15 villages in the region have blocked the intersection near the village of Kosh on the Yerevan-Gyumri highway as a form of protest, according to shamshyan.com.

“Our demand is not political. We are asking the government, specifically the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, led by the minister, to reconsider their decision and annul it, as this decision is going to become a real headache for the residents of over 15 villages. Transportation has not only become more expensive, but now, instead of reaching the 'Kilikia' bus station, transport from the villages will only reach Ashtarak, and from there we have no route into Yerevan. Before, we reached the 'Kilikia' bus station, but with their new plan, the situation is terrible. We are forced to take this extreme step of blocking the road. But we demand that the decision is made in favor of the people,” the protesters stated.

Currently, the mayor of the enlarged community of Ashtarak, Tovmas Shahverdian, is meeting with the protesters. He is suggesting that the participants in the protest go to the city hall to discuss the issues, and he is prepared to approach the government to resolve the matter in favor of the citizens.

Police officers and patrols have arrived at the scene and are negotiating with the residents to open the road and respond to the mayor’s invitation to go to the city hall to discuss the issue on-site.