Military join protesters who blocked highway in Armenia

A group of contract servicemen joined the protesters against the policy of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the process of delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Armenian media reported with reference to the Tavush for the Motherland organization.

About 20 military personnel joined the local residents who blocked the highway to Georgia in the area of the village of Kirants on the border with Azerbaijan, the organization said in a statement, Oreanda News reports.

Protests against Pashinyan's policy, in particular on the issue of relations with Azerbaijan, the process of delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the transfer of villages in the Tavush region of Armenia to the Azerbaijani side, have been taking place in the republic since April 20, demonstrators have blocked local highways and the highway to Georgia.

As stated on April 19 in the office of the Armenian leader, for the first time there will be a demarcated state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the area of four villages in the Tavush region.

Pashinyan said earlier in an interview with British media that Yerevan had "demonstrated its sincerity." "We have recorded that the government of the Republic of Armenia is ready to take steps within its powers so that in those Azerbaijani villages, namely Gizil Hajili, Kheyrimli, Ashaghi Askipara, Baghanis Ayrim, where people do not live now, people's lives would become possible, living would become possible," he said.

On April 23, 2024, the first border post was installed on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The military police of the Armenian Defence Ministry is taking measures to identify citizens in military uniform who joined the protest in Kirants village of Tavush region (Tovuzgala), Defence Ministry's press service said.