People wishing to return to Russia to continue hunger strike outside Armenian government
Two of the people, who have been staging a sit-in and hunger strike in front of the Armenian government building since Tuesday, met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday morning, one of the strikers, Vardan Vardanyan, said.
The protesting citizens who came to Armenia from Russia a few months ago had to stay in the country due to the closure of international borders amid the coronavirus pandemic. They demand an opportunity to travel back to Russia, urging the Armenian authorities to negotiate with the Russian side on the possible reopening of the Russian borders for Armenian nationals.
Vardanyan stated the protest will continue until their problem is resolved for good. According to him, during the meeting the premier said that the border with Russia remains closed due to the high number of daily Covid-19 cases in Armenia. However, according tom him, Pashinyan reassured them that the government would do everything possible to find a solution to the issue.
The protester stressed the need to first and foremost arrange the return of some 200 people who have ended up on the streets.
The strikers said more people would join them during the day, with 20 of them set to continue the hunger strike and sit-in at night.
They state the premier must find a solution for the people whose issue is pressing.
"In the end, he said, we will find a way out, which gives us some hope," said another protester, Artur Voskanyan, referring to the meeting with Pashinyan.