Protest Action: Yerevan-Tbilisi Railway Paralyzed

A tense and explosive situation has developed in the Lori region for several hours now. Since early morning, workers at the Alaverdi copper smelting plant have blocked the Yerevan-Tbilisi railway, causing a halt to freight transportation.

According to photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan, the protesters are demanding that the operations of the copper smelting plant in Alaverdi not be suspended. They insist on a swift resolution to their issue in their favor.

In a conversation with SHAMSHYAN.com, the protesters stated: “We have submitted a letter with 5,500 signatures to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, but so far we have received no response from either the Prime Minister or the government. Moreover, they say that the situation has changed, and that they respond quickly to citizens' complaints. If this is the kind of prompt response we receive, then we are in trouble, and the situation has not changed at all; in fact, we have gone backwards.”

The photojournalist reports that negotiations with the protesters are being conducted by Aram Ghazaryan, head of the Lori regional police department, and Lori Governor Andrey Ghukasyan. However, the protesters are demanding a concrete solution to their issue and a clear answer.

Currently, the railway remains blocked. The governor informed the protesters that he had called the government and raised the issue, and they promised that a meeting is scheduled for Friday, which will involve the plant's management, government representatives, and the protest participants. However, this has not helped, and the people continue their protest action.