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Armenian Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan talked this morning with demonstrators gathered on Bagramian Avenue in central Yerevan.
He said that over this period police officers have been as tolerant as they can. “I believe that youths should be a bit mad, but their actions have to fit into the logic and be based on respect,” Gasparyan said.

“The Armenians are a wise nation. Success should be reached by peaceful means,” the Armenian police chief stressed.

As was reported, on June 28 demonstrators against the power tariff hike divided into two groups after blocking Bagramyan Avenue in central Yerevan for over a week. The presidential residence, the Armenian parliament, Constitutional Court, and several embassies are located on that avenue. Following the statement made by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on June 27, the organizers of the rally attended by thousands – members of ‘No to Robbery’ civic initiative called on protesters to leave the avenue and return to Liberty Square nearby. Yet some of the demonstrators refused to leave, while others moved to Liberty Square. Police warned several times that they plan to open the street so that normal traffic could resume.