156 people detained in Armenia for demanding Pashinyan's resignation
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156 people are arrested by Armenian authorities in Yerevan for protesting the controversial border demarcation with Azerbaijan, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Armenian Interior Ministry.
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attends a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council of the Eurasian Economic Union at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP)
While protesting to demand the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan amid the controversial border demarcation with Azerbaijan, 156 people were arrested by Armenian authorities in Yerevan, a spokesperson for the Armenian Interior Ministry confirmed to Sputnik.
"As of now, 156 people have been taken to police stations," the spokesperson stated.
Protests have been ongoing since Thursday in Yerevan to demonstrate against the border demarcation and the transfer of several border territories to Baku, which have been led by Primate of the Diocese of Tavush of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan.
Armenia's National Security Service has cautioned supporters of the "Tavush for the Motherland" movement to adhere to the law and avoid actions that could undermine the constitutional structure.
The security service emphasized that any illegal activities or threats to constitutional order will be addressed using legal measures.
Actions on Tavush border 'dangerous'
It is also important to highlight that Archbishop Galstanyan, Primate of the Diocese of Tavush, was, on February 17, 2023, honored with the title of archbishop by the Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II.
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As such, the archbishop is not only a clergyman opposing Pashinyan's decision over the Tavush hand-over, but rather a social and spiritual figure representing the interests of the people of Tavush and various Armenians who believe that the hand-over will not bring peace, but more subjugation and that they must defend their existence.
In response to recent developments in the Tavush border area, the Supreme Patriarch of Holy Etchmiadzin expressed deep concern over actions taken under the pretext of demarcation and delimitation without comprehensive and guaranteed solutions, citing potential new threats to the Armenian people.
"We consider the actions taken under the pretext of demarcation and delimitation of the border in the Tavush border area extremely dangerous. These actions, taken without comprehensive and guaranteed solutions, create new threats to our people," a statement by the Patriarch conveyed.
