Your trusted source

A group of people continue the hunger strike and sit-in in front of the Armenian government offices on Thursday, for the second day in a row, demanding an opportunity to travel back to Russia.

The protesting people 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 are asking the Armenian authorities to negotiate with the Russian side on the possible reopening of the Russian borders for Armenian nationals.

Many of them do not have Russian citizenship, but they have lived in Russia for many years and started their own business there.

One of the protesting women told reporters that she had to stay in Armenia with her children, while her husband is in Russia.

She said her school-age children are now deprived of the right to education, only having access to some online lessons. The woman also stated she cannot run the business she started in Russia with much difficulty three years ago.

Another protesting citizen, Artur Voskanyan, said that one of the protesters fell sick due to a sudden drop in blood pressure, but insisted on continuing the hunger strike after receiving some medical care.

He said all of them are now experiencing similar health issues as they cannot fall asleep at night, adding, however, they continue to overcome all difficulties.

Voskanyan noted that he and another protesting citizen on Wednesday met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who assured them that the issue of 200 people would be resolved. “We handed over the list of 200 people to him. When we see that the issue is being resolved, we will end the protest, the hunger strike,” the man said, dismissing media reports that children are also on hunger strike.