Hraparak newspaper of Armenia writes: Late the night before, when thousands of citizens were protesting at [Yerevan] Republic Square for the salvation of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], demanding [Armenian PM] Pashinyan's resignation, Nikol Pashinyan gathered his CC [i.e. ruling Civil Contract Party] narrow circle, and they spent the whole night together.

He informed the [political] team, perhaps not in direct text, that he will not hand over the power under any circumstances, he will keep [it] at any cost. It was perhaps due to this that the police were using brute force and sound grenades against the citizens at the [aforesaid] square. He [i.e. Pashinyan] had sent his family to the summer house in Sevan, naturally under increased surveillance.

The other families also had come out. But when the opposition announced a long break until 19[:00] yesterday evening, they calmed down, realizing that there was no danger.

It is true that larger police troops were brought to the [Republic] Square yesterday, but the first wave of what happened had calmed down, and they were sure that no serious incident would be recorded.