The crowd threw stones and bottles at police, who responded with stun grenades, as a DPA reporter watched at a protest in Yerevan on Wednesday evening.

The Health Ministry said at least 55 people needed medical treatment.

Police said that about 80 people have been detained.

The protests, which have been going on for several weeks, are being led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstenyan of the Tavush Diocese in north-eastern Armenia.

Galstanyan has emerged as a vocal opponent of Pashinyan.

He has called on protesters to block roads and strike as a means of putting so much pressure on the government that it resigns.

Pro-Western Pashinyan has faced massive opposition since Armenia lost full control over the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region to arch rival Azerbaijan in 2023.

More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians were forced to flee after Azerbaijan's fierce offensive.

Azerbaijan has maintained pressure on Armenia and is now demanding more concessions.

Pashinyan angered many after signaling a willingness to cede control of several border villages to the neighboring country in exchange for a peace treaty.



khz