Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office is calling on all those participating in protests taking place in the country to show maximum tolerance and to refrain from all forms of violence.

The protests started yesterday after the parliament passed a controversial bill altering the legislature’s rules of procedure. Thousands gathered outside the National Assembly in Yerevan to voice their opposition.

The Office says it is monitoring the protests.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described the bill as an artificial hindrance to the dissolution of the current parliament and the holding of snap elections.

The approved bill would allow for the stoppage of parliamentary sessions in force majeure circumstances or when MPs are prevented from voting, only to be continued when such hindrances are no longer present.