YEREVAN. – A group of residents of the communities around the area of the Amulsar gold mine project have staged a picket at the main entrance of the National Assembly of Armenia.

They noted that they had come to ask the MPs to defend the restoration of law and order and the interests of their communities.

"We would ask our opposition MPs not to hinder us, not to fund the protesters, as if the environmentalists," said one demonstrator.

And asked whether they have facts that these protesters were being funded, the resident responded: "I have not worked in the mine for two years, I already owe 3 million drams, whereas they are able to take care for their family without working."