Pashinian addressed the opening session of the latest Annual Meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the city’s Opera House located at Liberty Square.
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian, the protest leader, on Tuesday urged supporters to converge on the square to press their demands for Pashinian’s resignation during the speech initially expected late in the afternoon.
The Armenian police announced the following morning that the sprawling square and streets leading to it will be closed for cars and pedestrians from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time. A police statement cited the need to ensure “public order and security” during the EBRD gathering.
An unusually large number of police officers were deployed in the blocked part of the city center to enforce the extraordinary measure. Several open-air cafes adjacent to the Opera House were also shut down as a result.
Hundreds of people gathered around the perimeter of the area cordoned off by security forces. Galstanian scoffed at the street closures as he addressed the protesters chanting “Nikol traitor!” and the main slogan of the protest movement: “Armenian, Armenia, Fatherland and God!”
“I want to thank the police for closing the streets for you,” he said, alluding to the fact that it was his supporters who blocked Yerevan streets in recent days.
He claimed that the heightened security around the EBRD conference venue is another proof that the Armenian authorities are “living in fear” of his movement sparked by their decision to hand over several border areas to Azerbaijan.
The outspoken cleric, who has attracted broad-based support from the Armenian opposition, held more talks with political groups and public figures earlier in the day. He announced afterwards that he will hold a “big meeting” with such groups to discuss further actions designed to topple Pashinian’s administration. He did not say when it will take place.