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Two separate groups of people staged a protest outside the Armenian government building on Thursday, raising their issues, while police officers repeatedly urged them to wear face masks and practice social distancing.

One of the groups included Armenian citizens who demand an opportunity to travel back to Russia. The protesting citizens who came to Armenia from Russia a few months ago had to stay in the country due to the closure of state borders amid the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the protesters said they have been told at a meeting with the foreign minister that the Russian government does not agree to reopen its borders to Armenian citizens, adding however Russia has already reopened its borders to other countries. “We are a EAEU member state and should have more privileges to movement, but we are not given any answer. We are asking and urging our government, which was elected by proud citizens of Armenia to resolve our problem to allow us to return to Russia,” the citizen said.

The second group of protesters included clothing and footwear traders who complain about the government’s new customs clearance pricing policy and rules. They staged a protest on Wednesday as well and met with Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Shushanik Nersisyan.

"We are asking the government to give us one year to work in the way it was before the changes, that is to allow us to pay the same [customs clearance] fee for 1 kilogram until we figure out what’s going on and hold discussions," a protester said.

The demonstrators claim if the customs clearance fees rise, prices for consumer goods will increase by 20 percent.