Demonstrators calling for   criminal charges against Ruben Hayrapetyan, the MP and owner of the Harsnakar Restaurant, took up a vigil outside the Armenian National Assembly this morning.

Carrying a variety of banners and placards, the demonstrators also attempted to get the message across to European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, who was leaving the parliament after addressing the legislature.

Protestors briefly scuffled with police who ordered the crowd to leave the street and move back to the sidewalk.

The crowd remained steadfast and the cops were forced to back down.

HAK MP’s Aram Manoukyan, Levon Zourabyan and Nikol Pashinyan also appeared and told the demonstrators that four parliamentary factions (HAK, ARF, Heritage and Prosperous Armenia) had launched a petition calling for a special parliamentary session on the matter but that they suspended the measure after Hayrapetyan resigned his mandate.

The HAK MP’s stated that the opposition is still calling for criminal charges to be filed against Hayrapetyan.

Protestors then marched to the General Prosecutor’s Office.