Armenia: Opposition activists to protest in Freedom Square, Yerevan, Feb. 20

Event

Anti-government opposition activists from the Movement for the Salvation of the Motherland group are planning to demonstrate in central Yerevan Feb. 20 to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Participants will gather at 1500 on Freedom Square; although participation is unclear, the event will likely be well attended.

Police will almost certainly deploy to monitor the rally; crowd-control measures, including possible movement restrictions, will likely prompt localized traffic and transport disruptions. Isolated clashes between protesters and law enforcement are possible, particularly if the former become unruly or attempt to breach police cordons.

Advice

Avoid the protest as a standard security precaution. Allow additional time for travel in the vicinity of Freedom Square the afternoon of Feb. 20. Heed the instructions of local authorities. Leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation; do not stop to take photographs.