Protesters in Yerevan block Russian Embassy

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Sep 2023 23:47
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As a result of the clashes, the health ministry reported that several people have suffered injuries and had to be hospitalized.

Screengrab showing protesters marching towards the Russian Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia, on Sept. 19, 2023. (RIA Novosti)

Protesters in Yerevan blocked the Russian Embassy on Tuesday, making it impractical for the diplomatic staff to carry out their duties. The Embassy has informed the Armenian Foreign Ministry about this matter through an official communication.

"We drew attention to the calls that have spread online to hold a protest near the building of the Russian embassy in Armenia … The diplomatic mission was blocked, first partially, and then completely. Normal functioning [of the embassy] remains impossible," the diplomatic mission said, adding that the situation "is tense."

"We sent a note to the Armenian Foreign Ministry to take measures to restore the normal functioning of the embassy in accordance with the obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the mission said.

Protesters are storming the government building in Yerevan as fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia has started today in Nagorno-Karabakh.#Armenia #Azerbaijan #NagornoKarabakh #Baku #Yerevan #Karabakh #Artsakh #Russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Ukraine

The Russian embassy in… pic.twitter.com/bQDgQfE9Yp
— Tom Kopca (@t0mk0pca) September 19, 2023

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced earlier in the day that Baku had initiated regional "anti-terrorist activities" within the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh area with the aim of "restoring the constitutional order."

Clashes ensued between protesters and law enforcement in Yerevan's central square after Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that no 'miscalculated' actions would be taken in response to Baku's plan to launch 'anti-terror' operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

As a result of the clashes, the Health Ministry reported that several people have suffered injuries and had to be hospitalized.

"Both police officers and civilians sought medical help. First aid was provided to the injured people on the spot, some of them were hospitalized," the Ministry said in a statement on social media.