Access to Yerevan again restricted
Police in Armenia have again blocked the roads to the capital in an attempt to prevent rural residents from joining an anti-government rally to be held in downtown Yerevan today evening.
"There have been reports today that inter-city public transportation and private taxies have not been operating since early morning. There is an apparent disruption in transport communication between the capital and marzes," Vladimir Karapetyan, a senior representative of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), told A1+.
Karapetyan says police patrols are deployed on Sevan-Yerevan and Armavir-Yerevan routes. In Metsamor, the roads are patrolled by armed servicemen.Even the electric train transporting commuters to the capital on a daily basis does not operate today.
A1+ has also received reports from rural residents about the disrupted transport communication and major roadblocks. The bus driving to the capital from Byurakan was reportedly removed from the route.
"The bus was overcrowded. A policeman went up to the driver and in a little while the driver announced that the bus would not leave for Yerevan. He seemed to be frightened," Lida Melkonyan told A1+.
"I was to get to the capital by all means, so I took a taxi with two other passengers. This is a sheer disgrace. They are restricting our right to free move," she added.
In the meantime, the police said Yerevan streets are closed as they are searching for dangerous criminal suspected in a "grave crime."
