Dozens detained in Yerevan protests Including ex-president’s son

Armenian police officers have detained 53 people during disobedience actions in Yerevan.

"As of 09:00, 53 people have been detained," Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

All detainees were taken to the police under Article 182 (failure to comply with a legal demand of a representative of the authorities) of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

Anti-government protests have been taking place in Yerevan since September 19. Their participants demand the resignation of the authorities, accusing them of “surrendering Karabakh.”

In addition, Armenian law enforcement forces - "red berets" - started detaining opposition activists who blocked the streets in the centre of Yerevan early in the morning.

Police first warned the protesters through loudspeakers that it was forbidden to block the Tumanyan-Saryan intersection in the city centre, after which they detained about 10 activists.

Presently, protests continue in various places in Yerevan.

Meanwhile, former President Robert Kocharyan's son Levon Kocharyan was also among the protesters and was arrested for one month. Kocharyan’s Jr. arrest was announced by his lawyer Alexander Kochubavev on social network.

The court session, during which the issue of preventive measures against Kocharyan Jr. was considered, lasted about 9 hours.

On September 22, Kocharyan Jr. was detained during anti-government rallies. He was also reported to be beaten by police officers, after which he was hospitalised. Later, however, it became known that Kocharyan was detained on suspicion of beating four policemen.

At the same time, a criminal case was opened on the fact of Kocharyan's torture. On September 24 morning, his lawyer said that it withdrew its complaint about the detention of Levon Kocharyan, calling the judge biased.

Kocharyan Jr. said that he was ready for a confrontation with the police officers who had presented information about him that did not correspond to reality.