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The Armenian Interior Ministry has confirmed the detention of fishermen protesting in Gegharkunik Province.

The Hraparak daily reported earlier on Wednesday that a group of fishermen from several villages gathered in the village of Noratus last night to protest against the whitefish hunting ban in Lake Sevan during the fish spawning period. They reportedly planned to block the Yerevan-Sevan highway.

Police have been on duty in the area to prevent clashes between the fishermen and officers of the Water Patrol Service for three days now. The latter detained some 30 fishermen trying to leave Noratus early in the morning, Hraparak said.

Interior Ministry spokesman Narek Sargsyan confirmed the reports when contacted by Panorama.am.

"At the moment, there are detainees on suspicion of hooliganism and interference with officials' legitimate activities,” he said. “The arrests were made in Gegharkunik Province. All detainees have been brought to the investigative body.”