Opposition political forces in Armenia demonstrated outside the Government Building in Yerevan today following yesterday’s statement by Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan that Azerbaijan will set up customs checkpoints along sections of the Goris-Kapan highway. 

Grigoryan announced the news on Armenian Public TV, stating that Armenia will set up its own checkpoints on the roadway in Syunik. Azerbaijan has deployed troops to monitor sections of the highway that Baku claims are Azerbaijani territory. 

Ara Zohrabyan

Ara Zohrabyan, the leader of the Zartonk National Christian Party addressed the crowd, saying that the trilateral agreement signed on November 9, 2020 ended the war, stipulating that the warring parties must remain in their positions. He said only the Armenian government has fulfilled this obligation.

Zohrabyan accused the Pashinyan government of inaction regarding the release of Armenian POWs held in Azerbaijan and ordering the removal of soldiers from contested border areas. 

Davit Grigoryan

Davit Grigoryan, one of the demonstrators, told Hetq that he felt an obligation, as an Armenian citizen, to be at the demonstration and that it had little to do with politics. 

"Yesterday we were informed that Azerbaijan will set up checkpoints on the Goris-Kapan road. The Security Council said that we will also install checkpoints, but it is not clear for whom they will be," Grigoryan said.

Gegham Manukyan

ARF member Gegham Manukyan, who serves as an opposition Hayastan faction MP, said the protest will continue outside the National Assembly. 

Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan, during his TV appearance, said that an alternate route between Goris and Tatev has opened that bypasses the Goris-Kapan roadway.