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A group of people, mostly Russian citizens, staged a protest in front of the Russian Embassy in Armenia on Friday, demanding that they be allowed to travel to Russia.

The protesters state the Russian Embassy has refused to help them. They delivered a letter to the embassy, threating to head to the Bagratashen border checkpoint if the problem fails to be resolved by July 30.

Human rights activist Davit Harutyunyan told reporters that the Russian Embassy staff is self-isolated and has ignored the citizens’ call for help. He said that people are registered to purchase airline tickets but are told that there are no free seats anymore.

"Information is conveyed to some private offices early, tickets are sold out, and ordinary people are left without tickets," he said.

According to the human rights activist, the citizens are ignored by the Russian Embassy and the Armenian authorities. "These people must be respected so that they wish to return to Armenia again,” he added.

One of the protesters said he arrived in Armenia in February and has been unable to return to Russian ever since as the coronavirus pandemic has prompted border closure.

“We have rented a house but are running out of money to pay for it. We have almost ended up on the street with no source of living. I keep coming here every day, but there is no answer, no one is willing to meet us,” the protester said.