Sputnik News Service
May 3, 2018 Thursday 5:34 PM UTC
US Government Employees Advised to Postpone Travel to Armenia Amid Protests – Embassy
WASHINGTON, May 3 (Sputnik) – US government employees should refrain from visiting Armenia or travel within the country in the wake of post-election demonstrations there, the US Embassy in Yerevan said in a travel advisory on Thursday.
"US government personnel are advised to avoid areas of demonstrations and postpone all unnecessary travel into or within Armenia due to the unpredictable road closures," the advisory said.
On Tuesday, the Armenian parliament failed to elect opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as interim prime minister because lawmakers failed to secure the majority 53 votes in the 105-seat chamber. Protesters disrupted traffic in Yerevan, blocking railways and roads leading to the international airport upon calls by Pashinyan to do so after the failed vote.
Armenia has been gripped by massive opposition protests since April 13. In Gyumri, the country’s second-largest city, protests escalated into a takeover of government buildings.
The protests continue in Armenia’s capital even though Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan gave to the opposition demands and resigned on Monday.
The US Embassy in Yerevan remains open and operates on regular schedule despite the road closures, the advisory said.