Seven citizens arrested in Armenia following protest in front of the Iranian Embassy
Seven individuals were arrested during a gathering held in front of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Yerevan. Narek Sargsyan, the press secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), informed Amnews about this.
According to him, the arrests were made after the participants of the gathering failed to comply with the lawful demands of the police officers. The detainees were held accountable under Article 182 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, according to which failure to comply with the lawful demand of a serviceman or a police officer during the performance of duties related to maintaining public order and ensuring public security entails a fine of fifty times the set minimum wage (50,000 AMD).
The MIA press secretary noted that the march planned during the gathering was not authorized, which is why the police did not allow it to proceed. The action had been authorized by the Yerevan Municipality on January 15, but the decision of authorization was revoked on January 16.
It should be recalled that a group of Iranians living in Armenia are carrying out a protest in front of the Iranian Embassy. They are protesting against the actions of the authorities towards demonstrators in Iran and are demanding secular governance. The protesters decided to march to the Blue Mosque, but the police prohibited it, after which the participants began a sit-in in front of the embassy.
The protesters are chanting “Death to Khamenei,” “Freedom to Iran,” “Democracy to Iran,” “Stand with Iran,” and “Long live Shah Reza.” They are holding posters featuring the image of Reza Pahlavi with the inscription “King Pahlavi.”
This was preceded by the dissatisfaction of Iranian Ambassador Khalil Shirgholami. On January 14, he stated that Iran is concerned by the fact that protests are taking place in front of the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan. In response, Pashinyan stated that Armenia will do everything to dispel all the concerns of friendly and fraternal Iran.