3:16pm

Protesters have blocked the Koryun-Teryan and Mashtots-Teryan intersections. Many drivers have parked their cars horizontally in the streets and are honking their horns in support of the protesters.

3:00pm

Several hundred youngsters are marching along Khorenatsi Street. “Reject Serzh” initiative members Armen Grigoryan and Davit Sanasaryan are at the head of the march. They are calling on citizens to attend this evening’s rally at Republic Square scheduled for 7.

2:57pm

Protest marchers have reached Mashtots Avenue and are spilling over into the street from the crowded sidewalks. Shouting “join us”, they are calling on passersby to attend this evening’s rally at Republic Square.

2:20pm

Traffic is now flowing on Arshakunyats Avenue after truncheon-wielding police arrived on the scene. The protesters raised their arms in the air, to show the peaceful nature of the protest.

A group of protesters marched down Garegin Njdeh Street and joined a larger crowd gathered on Arshakunyats Avenue. Police in riot-gear are blocking activists from entering the street.

Hundreds of protesters marching down Tigran Metz Avenue joined those on Arshakunyats Avenue, blocking two-way traffic on the major artery.

1:57pm

A group of students from Erebuni State Medical College have blocked Titogradyan Street, which affords access to the school.

After drivers reprimanded them for closing the street leading to the hospital, the students made their way to the Erebuni Reserve-Museum.

Unidentified individuals in cars, who were following the students along Ayvazovsky Street, exited the vehicles and attacked the students.

1:55pm

Students from the Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences in Yerevan blocked the nearby Saryan-Tumanyan intersection.

1:50pm

Activists have succeeded in blocking a section of Arshakunyats Street in Yerevan for some time now. Police have arrived on the scene, and the activists have locked arms to resist any attempt to disperse them.

1:20pm

Police have removed trash bins from the Saryan-Tumanyan intersection. One student activist, Arayik Gharibyan, was detained by police.  One the police left, activists moved in and again closed the section of Saryan Street near Brusov State University.

1:15pm

Police are detaining people who were trying to block the intersection of Koryun and Teryan Streets in Yerevan

12:31pm

A large group of protesters, marching up Mashtots Avenue, have turned on Amiryan Street, and are now headed for Saryan Street. Students from the Institute of Cinema and Theater, shouting “school strike” have joined them.

12:30pm

Police detained scores of people at the Mashtots-Isahakyan intersection who were trying to stage a protest action at the Fine Arts Academy.

Top photo: University student Arayik Gharibyan

Note to readers - After the National Assembly elected Serzh Sargsyan prime minister on April 17, Yelk Alliance MP Nikol Pashinyan, who spearheaded the “Im Kayl” (My Step) movement to prevent Sargsyan’s election, declared a “Velvet Revolution” to be carried out on a rotating basis. Protesters will briefly “occupy” government buildings, urging civil servants inside to join them. The intent is to disrupt the normal flow of life in downtown Yerevan, blocking traffic on major streets, and then hold evening rallies in Republic Square. Today marks the eighth day of civil disobedience in Yerevan.

By Gagik Aghbalyan, Diana Ghazaryan, Amalia Margaryan, Ani Gevorgyan