Armenian opposition seeking report from security forces to Pashinyan

Civil disobedience actions are continuing in Yerevan, organised by the parliamentary opposition demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The active phase of mass protests has been going on for more than a week, starting from May 2, while the “resistance movement” itself started last month.

However, the Armenian systemic opposition is well behind schedule, given the bold claims made by its leaders on May 3 that Pashinyan's removal is "a matter of one or two days."

During a rally on France Square in Yerevan, protest organizers announced a “work plan” for May 10. There are no special changes here: the oppositionists will advance in four columns from different parts of the capital, blocking its transport arteries on their way.

The vice-speaker of the parliament of the republic from the opposition faction "Armenia" Ishkhan Saghatelyan explained what the opposition groups are trying to achieve - the report of the security forces to Pashinyan that they are no longer able to control the situation on the streets and squares of Yerevan. Judging by the current situation "on the ground," such a report is not a matter of the near future. The opposition will not succeed in concentrating a protest mass critical for the authorities - several tens of thousands of people. At present, the civil disobedience actions have the participation of three to five thousand citizens at most. 

The opposition does not rule out blocking government buildings. Ishkhan Saghatelyan stated this on May 9. According to him, it is necessary to “paralyse” the capital and the whole country, since each new day of Nikol Pashinyan in power “does not [support Armenian]… national interests.”

Russian Foreign Ministry on protests in Armenia

Russia called on the Transcaucasian ally to act within the framework of democratic procedures. Protest actions in Armenia are an internal affair of the republic, Alexei Zaitsev, Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said during a briefing.

“This is an internal affair of Armenia. We are interested in the stable, safe, and peaceful development of the allied republic. We proceed from the fact that all issues should be resolved exclusively in the legal and constitutional field within the framework of appropriate democratic procedures,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.

Regarding the linkage of the rallies in Yerevan with the process of normalising relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that Moscow believes that it is not about the attitude of the Armenian opposition to the trilateral agreements reached, but about the perception of certain statements by the leadership of the republic.

“In this regard, I would like to once again draw attention to the fact that we are invariably committed to actively contributing to the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, primarily through the implementation of all the provisions of the tripartite statements (between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021. - Ed.) and through the conclusion of a peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku," Zaitsev stressed.

Women's demonstrations, marches, and protests

Opposition members in Armenia have demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and marched on the northern city of Vanadzor. A women's rally was held in Yerevan and disobedience actions continued in various parts of the city.

The opposition accuses Pashinyan of "recognising Azerbaijan's power over Nagorno-Karabakh" and being ready to make concessions. The government rejects the opposition's demand and says that a potential resignation is not widely supported. The demonstrations are being held in four major cities along with Yerevan. At the end of last month, protesters from four regions joined the protests in the capital.

The marchers turned to Vanadzor, the country's third largest city. During the day, information was provided about those detained among the protesters. The rally was also attended by former Armenian Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan.