YEREVAN (Hetq)–Activists with the “Teghut Defense Group”, headed by Heritage Party MP Zaruhie Postanjyan, staged a demonstration outside the Armenian Government Building in Yerevan on Thursday protesting the recently signed Armenia-Turkey protocols.

Carrying banners reading “No to Turkish Protocols”, “Traitor” and “Aghdam is Our Fatherland”, the demonstrators were met by a cordon of police that lined up opposite the line of demonstrators.

When asked why so few had turned out for the demonstration, MP Postanjyan argued that of utmost importance was that they turn out in unison; as an organized group.

Singing a refrain from the patriotic song “Zartir Lao”, the protestors then headed towards the Foreign Ministry, Constitutional Court and the Presidential Palace up on Baghramyan Avenue. When the group had reached Lovers’ Park, their advance was halted by police who barred their path.

When MP Postanjyan asked why the police had barred their advance to the palace, Captain Abgaryan said that it was because an important meeting was taking place there and that the police had received orders to stop the marchers.

The war of words between the demonstrators and police soon turned into a shoving match. The police ended up tearing one of the posters being carried by a demonstrator.

Heritage Party faction secretary Larisa Alaverdyan attempted to explain to the police that the demonstration was within their legal rights.

“I can neither say nor demand any more. It would probably more advantageous to contact the appropriate government bodies in writing and demand that they do not prohibit that which can’t be prohibited by law. Presently, the right of the demonstrators to freedom of movement and expression are being violated and the police official who gave the orders to do such is obligating the officers to break the law.

The protestors assembled on Baghramyan further down from the presidential palace and for some time chanted “Serzhik Traitor” and “Serzhik, Take a Hike”.