The opposition Homeland Party led by Artur Vanetsyan has denounced the violence and hate speech against journalists reporting on the peaceful anti-government protests in Yerevan.

In a statement on Monday, the party stated that the mass civil disobedience campaign launched in Yerevan and other parts of Armenia on Monday was met with “disproportionate and brutal force” by the incumbent authorities.

"The ruling regime, which is ready to "lower the bar" on issues concerning the security of Artsakh and Armenia, has raised the bar of repressions against its own citizens, unlawfully detaining hundreds of peaceful protesters, including dozens of Homeland Party members,” it said.

“The acts of violence and hate speech against members of the media reporting on the peaceful protests which have been ordered and carried out by some top officials are particularly noteworthy.

“The Homeland Party strongly condemns as unacceptable the unlawful steps of the ruling regime in Armenia,” the party said, drawing the attention of the international community and human rights groups to such incidents and urging law enforcement officers to defy the “illegal orders”.

It stressed that the nationwide movement “cannot be stopped and will definitely succeed.”