The Armenian Police have issued a statement that the recent protests in Yerevan demanding that transit fare hikes be rescinded cannot be considered “spontaneous” in nature and that the organizers must apply for demonstration permits in advance of any action.

It would appear that the police are trying to curb the rights of citizens in terms of freedom of expression and assembly by painting the protests in such a light that will allow the police to arrest and detain protestors “according to the law”.

As it now stands, the law allows for protests up to a maximum of 100 people, but only if they are “spontaneous” in nature and do not last for more than six hours.

The police statement claims that the protests, now into their fifth day, are neither.

The statement ends with a call to the protestors not to hinder police actions designed to maintain “public order” and the “constitutional rights” of others.