During the annual "Year in Review" press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to a question about support for young families, noted the tradition of early marriages in the North Caucasus. He said he believed this was "right" and suggested "following their example," citing Ramzan Kadyrov's large family.
Today, the police detained over 230 participants in the disobedience protest in Yerevan. They are supporters of the “Tavush for the Motherland” movement. Protesters blocked dozens of streets in the central area of the capital.
The “Red Berets” (9-seat special forces) behave in the most arrogant and obscene manner, according to opposition member of parliament Garnik Danielyan. “Women, girls, minors, parents of dead soldiers are subjected to violence, beaten without remorse, and even threatened. I heard that for each case of violence they receive bonuses,” Danielyan said.
The protests began after the call of the opposition leader, head of the Tavush diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Bagrat Galstanyan. He and his followers are against changing the border with Azerbaijan and for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Galstanyan the day before asked to suspend his spiritual status so as not to combine the post of archbishop with the role of a candidate for prime minister of Armenia.