Protraction during the “Diversity Parade” launched in Yerevan: Unknown people impede the march.

“Diversity Parade” has launched in Armenia’s capital minutes ago.

The event is organized by five NGOs which will continue the series of events titled “A Diversity Week”. The representatives of NGOs claim their events have no relation to LGBT community.

“There are many people in Armenia who differ from the majority by their ideas, way of thinking, religious and national identity, appearance and personal features,” the organizers said in a statement.

The parade is taking place in the center of Yerevan next to those opposing the march. A group of young people is following the participants.

Later it became known, that a clash took place during the march. The conflict occurred between the police and a group of youth who are obstructing the event.

The youth had formed a human chain in an attempt to not allow the march participants enter the building of the Painters’ Union, where an exhibition is underway.

The law enforcement officers, however, opened up the way and the event participants entered the building unobstructed.

But prior to this incident, there was a tense situation all through the march, because the youth, who consider themselves “patriots,” had hurled derogatory and insulting comments at the activists taking part in the March of Diversity.

The youth who are obstructing the event called its participants “gays” and stated: “You are not Armenian! You are the disgrace of this nation!”.

But the event organizers say their march has no connection with homosexuals.

“Even though the Armenian society is very homogeneous, people who differ from the majority also live in Armenia,” the organizers’ statement reads in particular.