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The families of fallen soldiers are staging a protest outside the Armenian government building. The demonstration comes after the authorities failed to address their demands for compensation for, what they claim, six months.

At a news conference on 12 September, three non-governmental organizations urged the government to apply the criteria for support to the families of the March 2008 post-election unrest victims also to the families of servicemen who have been killed or become disabled.

Lusine Avetisyan, the mother of a fallen soldier, tried to break into the government building but was pushed back by police officers blocking the entrance.

She next blocked the way of Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, adding they wanted to present their issue to the prime minister. Tatoyan advised her to meet him after the cabinet meeting or to pay a visit to the Ombudsman’s Office. He also promised to discuss the matter with the government’s chief of staff.

After the ombudsman left, Lusine Avetisyan staged a sit-in in front of the building, blocking its entrance. President of the “Zinvor” (Soldier) Coordinating Council NGO Margarita Khachatryan also joined her.

She threatened to continue the sit-in so long as the government makes a decision to provide support to them, as well as the families of the police officers killed during the seizure of a Yerevan police station in 2016.