Supporters of the opposition Tavush for the Homeland movement, led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, have been camped out on Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in Armenia for three days. The avenue remains closed off by the opposition, with tents set up for the protesters.
Meanwhile, the police have blocked off entrances to Derenik Demirchyan Street for the same amount of time, creating a human chain to restrict access to areas around the National Assembly building and the Prime Minister’s residence.
Despite the tension, the situation on Marshal Baghramyan Avenue is currently peaceful. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan shared a livestream early Wednesday morning to update the public on the ongoing protest and invited supporters to join him at 3pm.
The protests began in response to border delimitation plans between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which were announced on April 19. Archbishop Galstanyan’s movement gained momentum with demonstrations in Tavush Province before culminating in a demand for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation in Yerevan. Amidst the unrest, a transitional government was announced, with Archbishop Galstanyan as the candidate for Prime Minister.