Son of Tseghakron Party leader, activist Shant Haroutiunyan, Shahen, was detained from Gyumri's Vardanats Square prior to the Pope's Holy Mass today, on June 25.
The Police disseminated a statement wherein they say the young man was detained and taken to police, as he was seen hiding "something suspicious" in his clothing and refused to leave the square at the request of police officers. Considering his previous detention for hooliganism, the police officers detained him and launched proceedings based on Article 182 of the Administrative Code of Armenia, the Police say in the statement. At present, Shahen Haroutiunyan is at the 6th Police Department. The young man, in turn, says he does not know why he was detained.
In the meantime, the Armenian media report that 10 members of the Founding Parliament have been kidnapped and taken to an undisclosed location, as they tried to organize a flash mob in support the political prisoners in the Republic Square where Pope Francis will hold an ecumenical meeting and prayer for peace tonight.