• The Artsakh Union, a part of the Council for Protection of Artsakh Citizen’s Rights, announced a protest rally at Freedom Square in Yerevan at 18:00 (local time) on July 12.  
• The protest is being held to pressurize the government to address the demands of the former residents of Artsakh, who were displaced following the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

1. The turnout at the slated protest rally is likely to range in the high dozens to low hundreds, based on the wide traction gained by the rally call as well as given precedent from previous gatherings. Participation is likely to be bolstered if opposition groups join in. Security measures are expected to be enhanced in the vicinity of Freedom Square to monitor the proceedings. These measures will likely include the placement of barricades and deployment of police personnel.  
2. There remains a latent risk of scuffles between protesters and the police, given the sensitive nature of the issue involved. The police are likely to resort to crowd control measures, such as baton charges and temporary detentions, should the protesters engage in disruptive tactics including the blocking of major roads. Localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic are anticipated in the vicinity of Freedom Square during the slated hours on July 12.  

Those operating or residing in Yerevan on July 12 are advised to maintain vigilance in the vicinity of Freedom Square due to the slated protest rally and associated risk of scuffles while allotting for travel disruptions.