Armenian protests escalate: Thousands call for Pashinyan's resignation
A crowd of thousands calls for the resignation of Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Disgruntled Armenians have taken over cities, including Yerevan. The demonstrations are a response to the outcome of peace talks with Azerbaijan. Protesters aim to prevent the implementation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement signed in March 2024.
Recall that in March 2024, Nikol Pashinyan's government signed peace agreements with Azerbaijan, ending the more than 40-year-long Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Notably, both Armenia and Azerbaijan claimed rights to Nagorno-Karabakh. Ultimately, the territory came under the government's jurisdiction in Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan - editor's note).
Armenian society, however, did not accept the agreement's contents. They criticize Prime Minister Pashinyan for giving up a small area in the border region of Tavush, which concerns several villages that will be incorporated into Azerbaijan's borders. According to the protesters, relocating people and transferring territory to the government in Baku is illegal.
Thousands of protesters. Armenia's Prime Minister threatens with war
Protests erupted almost immediately after the signing of the agreement but have been gaining momentum. Today's demonstration, comprising thousands, appears to be the largest since March 2024. Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Yerevan and are heading towards Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's residence.
There were so many people that—as reported by Belsat—they could not fit in the capital's main square. Led by the charismatic Archbp. Bagrat Galstanyan (bishop of the diocese in Tavush), the protest had to change its original plans and blocked traffic in the capital of Armenia.
It is known that the opposition and the non-partisan movement "Tavush for the Homeland" demanded talks with Prime Minister Pashinyan. However, he travelled to another part of Armenia, affected by flooding.
It should be noted that thousands of security service officers guard Nikol Pashinyan's house. Protesters emphasize that they intend to keep the protest peaceful, but the police in Yerevan do not rule out clashes.
It is also worth noting that, according to Prime Minister Pashinyan, "the signed agreements are the only way to end the war, and the demonstrators aim to reignite the conflict".
On the other hand, protesters point out that "the resettlement process began without signed agreements, which could lead to further military actions from Azerbaijan."
