The situation in the southern Armenian province of Syunik is tense, with the residents gathering near the gates of the region to prevent the arrival of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday, December 21, Aysor.am reports.

Pashinyan is supposed to spend the working day in Syunik to learn more about the security challenges facing the province.

A large number of police officers have gathered at the scene, some of them blocking the road to prevent the gathering of the residents of Syunik.

The mayor of Goris, Arush Arushanyan, meanwhile, has been detained, deputy mayor Menua Hovsepyan has revealed. The police told PanARMENIAN.Net the Investigative Committee is looking into the matter.

Arushanyan declared earlier that a convoy of cars would leave the Tatevatsi Square in Goris for the gates of Syunik to "ban the entry of the "Prime Minister" who is alienating the Armenian land and undermining the former inviolability of Syunik."

On his way to Syunik on Monday morning, Pashinyan said he is aware of the protest and is ready to speak to the demonstrators and respond to their questions.