The butchers and livestock farmers in Gegharkunik Province of Armenia have staged a protest today against the draft law on the slaughter of animals for meat solely in slaughterhouses, and closed off the Vardenis-Yerevan motorway in the morning.

Speaking to Armenian News-NEWS.am, one of them said they are strongly against the slaughter of animals for meat solely in slaughterhouses. "And if the government does not back down from its decision, we will again block the road," he added.

According to him, Vardenis community leader Aram Melkonyan met with them, and negotiated with the demonstrators to reopen the road.

"We listened to our community leader and opened the road," the protestor said. “And he told us to wait, if the government's decision does not satisfy us, there is no solution to our liking, he, too, will come with us and close the road.”