Nikol Pashinyan about the events in Ijevan: No one has the right to  speak the language of blackmail with the government 

ArmInfo. Currently, the situation in the Armenian city of Ijevan, where clashes occured  yesterday between police and local residents, is under the control of  law enforcement agencies, the roads are open. The deputy head of the  RA Police Vardan Movsisyan stated this on July 18 at a government  meeting.

According to him, yesterday evening a group of persons, numbering up  to 500 people, dissatisfied with the stationary posts on the ground,  blocked the road of interstate importance Ijevan-Georgia, demanding  the removal of these installations in order to continue deforestation  and its sale. The group blocked the road several times, insisting on  meeting their unlawful demands. By 6:00 pm, ignoring the requirements  of the Police, local residents began throwing stones at law  enforcement officers, blocking most of the road. As a result, clashes  between police officers and law enforcement agencies occurred, 12  police officers and 2 civilians were injured. Fortunately, the Deputy  Chief of Police said, all the injuries were not serious.  Currently,  there are 8 policemen in the police hospital, of whom 6 are  undergoing outpatient examinations, and 2 have been discharged.

Vardan Movsisyan also informed that by order of the head of the RA  Police Valeriy Osipyan, an enhanced duty regime was introduced in the  region. A number of internal troops units have been deployed there.  The police chief himself negotiated with activists who continued to  insist on their illegal demands, which were rejected. The  Investigation Committee of the Republic of Armenia has initiated  criminal cases on the basis of the articles of the RA Criminal Code,  which are qualified as hooliganism and the use of force against the  authorities. 19 people were detained, of which 13 were arrested, the  rest were released on recognizance not to leave. Measures are being  taken to identify and hold accountable the remaining active  participants (about 36 people) of the riots.  In turn, RA Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that all attempts to dictate unlawful  demands to the government of the country would be stopped in the  strictest possible way. According to him, it is necessary to continue  to stop all illegal processes, during which a certain group of  people, listening to speeches from various officials' rostrums, grin,  continuing to do their dirty work. The Prime Minister recalled that  the National Security Service dealt with cases related to the  organized criminal network. "There will be no illegal compromise, and  it's important that everyone know about it. I clearly set this task  for law enforcement agencies, no one has the right to speak with the  government the language of blackmail," the head of government said.   On the evening of July 17 in Ijevan, Tavush region of Armenia, a  group of sawmill workers blocked an interstate route leading to  Georgia. The demonstrators demanded that they, as before, be allowed  to cut wood. The police tried to push them off the highway, but the  protesters began throwing stones at law enforcement officers. As a  result of the collision there are injured on both sides. In  particular, 13 people were hospitalized.  In this regard, RA Minister  of Environment Erik Grigoryan reminded at today's government meeting  that two weeks ago the RA National Assembly adopted the Criminal Code  and the Code of Administrative Offenses, according to which  responsibility for illegal logging is toughened. It is envisaged, in  particular, to double the rate of penalties in the first case of  cutting, and if the offense is repeated during the year, to bring  violators to criminal responsibility. Thus, as the minister noted,  all those loopholes used by a certain category of citizens were  excluded. Previously, they, for committing illegal logging, paid a  light fine, and continued their activities. Now they may face  criminal prosecution.