State Department on protests in Armenia

The U.S. 'fully supports' the fundamental freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, State Department's spokesperson Ned Price told TURAN's Washington correspondent when commenting on ongoing protests in Armenia.

"As you know, we had a Strategic Dialogue with the Armenians last week, I suppose it was in that forum that we reaffirmed our mutual commitment to Armenia's democratic development and the United States support for lasting peace in the South Caucasus," Price said during the Department's daily press briefing on Monday.

"We believe that peaceful protests are an element of an open political system." Price said.

"... We urge people to express their opinions in a peaceful manner. We urge authorities to exercise restraint and encourage those protesting to refrain from violence and to respect the rule of law and Armenia's democracy" the spokesperson added.

"The Armenian capital city of Yerevan has witnessed weeks of demonstrations with hundreds of protesters' calling for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to step down over his policy on Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.