Number of detained protesters in Yerevan reaches 189 UPDATED

The Armenian police detained about 200 demonstrators blocking the streets in the centre of Yerevan during civil disobedience declared by the opposition on Monday.

"At the moment, 189 people have been detained on charges of disobeying the lawful demands of the police," the police spokesman, Edgar Janoyan, told Interfax.

The night before, protesters who had gathered in France Square in the centre of Yerevan set up tents for a round-the-clock protest.

11.19

The Armenian police have detained 125 participants of the protest rallies held in Yerevan, as of 09:40 local time.

The detainees were brought under Article 182 (disobeying the lawful demands of the police) of the Code of Administrative Offenses. It is possible that this figure may increase, as the protests and detentions continue even now, Caliber.Az reports referring to the Armenian media.

The protests have begun after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's remarks about a negotiation process with Azerbaijan on Karabakh.

10.07

The police have begun detaining participants of an opposition protest demanding the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the centre of Yerevan.

The opposition blocked the central square of Shaumyan. Law enforcement officers pushed the protesters aside, and then put several people into the car, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the opposition, large-scale civil disobedience actions will begin on Monday morning, and streets and highways will be blocked. Traffic in the centre of Yerevan is planned to be paralyzed.

09.30

Armenia's opposition activists seeking the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan began large-scale protests and blocked central streets in Yerevan on Monday morning.

The central avenues of Myasnikyan, Geratsi, as well as Gnuni and Vardanants streets and other places, are blocked at the moment, with large crowds of cars observed, TASS reports.

Special police forces have begun detaining opposition activists who have blocked the central streets of the capital.

"As of now, France Square belongs to the people, as of now, power in Armenia belongs to the people," Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament, and a member of the opposition "Armenia" Faction said during the opposition rally on the last evening at the aforesaid square, according to the Armenian media.

"We will spend this day at this square. Soon we will set up tents and appropriate measures so that we can spend the night here. Tomorrow, starting at 8:30[am], we will start large-scale [civil] disobedience acts of protest. Tomorrow as of 8:30 [am] we will start the process of depriving them [the incumbent Armenian authorities] of power. This is not a seizure of power", the Armenian people," Saghatelyan added.