Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan today visited the town of Aparan and toured an exhibition of handmade wares made by young people to mark Citizen’s Day.

Pashinyan issued a public statement on his website describing the day as one of freedom of speech, assembly, and the press.

“This is a great occasion to congratulate our people. Our government is the guarantor of the people's free expression of will, but the people must also protect their right to free expression of will through their own free expression, and this is extremely important,” the statement reads.

Pashinyan, in his statement, writes that the 2018 “Velvet Revolution” launched the path towards the citizen becoming the owner of the state.

“This change is happening, but not without obstacles. And this is a path that, by passing through, we will be able to ensure our highest goal - the survival of our independent state, the Republic of Armenia.”