As of press time, it appears that local police have not taken measures to disrupt the flow of people and cars to Yerevan on the day of the opposition-based HAK rally.

If such unrestricted traffic continues to flow from surrounding communities into the capital, it would be a first since after the 2008 presidential elections.

Levon Zurabyan, a HAK spokesman, said they were sending out teams to investigate the traffic situation.

I asked Mr. Zurabyan if the fact that the authorities had not closed off incoming roads meant that the government no longer saw the opposition as a threat.

"If we follow that logic, then they wouldn't have released the political prisoners since they posed a threat. Or, if they have released the political prisoners, does it mean, according to your logic, that there is no more threat? Yes, our struggle has driven a wedge in the situation but I can't say if it's had an impact on the traffic issue," said Mr. Zurabyan.