The civil protests that began in the heart of capital Yerevan have spread around other towns across the country, reaching also neighboring Georgia and Armenian communities abroad.
The protests that began in Liberty Square last Friday continue in a nearby Yerevan avenue that leads to the presidential administration building and the energy of the rallies and sin-ins is shared by similar smaller-scale events in Gyumri, Vanadzor and elsewhere in Armenia.
Although water cannons were not used against protesters in Gyumri and Vanadzor like it happened on Tuesday morning in Yerevan, however the Wednesday weather itself went against the protesters. But demonstrators reportedly braved the heavy rain and continued their protest with even greater enthusiasm.
Gyumri protesters, flanked by police, marched from the town’s Theater Square with posters and chants saying “End to Tariff Increase”, “We Will Not Pay”, “No More Increases”, passing along the main streets and until Renaissance Park, and returned to Theater Square where they have been holding a sit-in. According to them, they will continue the sit-in until something gets decided in the capital.
And Vanadzor protestors started their march from Artsakh Park chanting “Unification”, “Out of Our Pockets”, “No To Plunder” and moved toward Hayk Square where they began an open-ended sit-in in front of the City Hall.
Organizers here initially said that the event must not be politicized, however the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) party and Founding Parliament (FP) movement representatives were present and were given a chance to make speeches. The police force in Vanadzor as well surrounded the protesters.
According to Yerevan protest initiative members, people in Ashtarak, Sisian, Spitak joined them by organizing sit-ins. And protesters from Charentsavan conducted a protest on wheels and reached Baghramyan Avenue on Wednesday evening.
But protests are not limited to Armenia only. In the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi about 300 kilometer away from Yerevan some people joined the Armenian protests as well. On Wednesday a group of ethnic Armenian as well as Georgian youths gathered in front of the Armenian Embassy to Georgia with posters saying “Do not Care for Bibin”, “Electric Yerevan”, “In Support of the Armenians” expressing their support for the young activists holding protests on Baghramayn Avenue in Yerevan.
Across the ocean, in one of the largest Armenian community abroad, in front of the Armenian Consulate in Glendale, California, USA, a group of Armenians expressed their discontent against the Armenian police actions against the protesters in Yerevan. However, unlike it is in Yerevan where no political demands are advanced, in Glendale there was also a demand for the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan.
In support of the protesters on Baghramyan Avenue, jailed Armenian actor Vardan Petrosyan went on a hunger strike in Nubarashen penitentiary.
“I am not physically there, but I can express my support for all the protesters this way,” the actor said.
Report GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter