"We Are the Owners of Our Country" initiative is picketing the Armenian Parliament building opposing the ratification of the agreement on joint regional air defense system with Russia.
ArmInfo's correspondent reporting from the spot of the protest say a dozen of activists have gathered in front of the Parliament building. "All the parliamentarians voting for the given agreement are the enemies of our country and people. In condition of war, that agreement may spark repetition of the genocide. The Armenian public must unit and oppose the given agreement," says activist Mushegh Gabrielyan. He said more people will join them shortly to oppose that document and prevent the threats emerging from it. The Parliament is looking to ratify the above agreement at its extraordinary meeting shortly. According to the agreement, in time of peace the Armenian side will have the right to use the system at its own discretion and time of war there will be a joint use of the system.
To recall, on October 23, 2015, the Russian Government approved the agreement on creation of a joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. The document was submitted for the Russian President's ratification. The Russian President announced the creation of the air defense system in November 2013. On November 11, Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered to sign agreement between Russia and Armenia on creating joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. On December 23, 2015, Armenia's Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu signed an agreement on creation of a joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. Some Armenian military experts think the joint air defense system is already operating, given the presence of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, Russian S-300 systems and MiG-29 planes, as well as the joint command system in the North Caucasus.