RPA activists protest outside Armenian Foreign Ministry
Activists of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Youth Organization on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Armenian Foreign Ministry building.
They held the ministry responsible for the detention of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) leaders by Azerbaijani authorities and condemned its failure to make efforts towards their repatriation.
RPA Youth Organization Chairman Henrikh Danielyan blamed Armenia’s foreign policy for the depopulation of Artsakh.
The activists held posters featuring photos of former Artsakh leaders Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, ex-parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan and other Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan, which read, “Aliyev’s prisoners”.
Henrikh Danielyan blamed the Foreign Ministry for turning the government office into a “travel agency”.
“Are the taxes paid by Armenian citizens for those inside this building to work and get salaries used for the benefit of Armenia and Artsakh or for Azerbaijan? a protester asked, claiming the ministry leaders’ policy has led to a “disgraceful situation” on all international platforms and security challenges.
“We’ve gathered here to say that we refuse to remain silent and put up with it,” they said.
The protesters brought board games, including dominoes, tennis and others, as gifts for employees of the Foreign Ministry.