| 2022 Armenian protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 5 April 2022 - | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | A cease-fire agreement signed by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan | ||
| Goals | Resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan | ||
| Methods | Demonstrations, civil unrest, street blockades, sit-ins, student protest, general strike | ||
| Status | Ongoing | ||
| Parties | |||
| Lead figures | |||
| |||
| Casualties | |||
| Arrested | 1[1] | ||
| Detained | ~700 people: 244 (May 2)[2], 237 (May 3)[3], ~203 (May 4-10)[4][5][6][7] | ||
From 5 April 2022, Armenia has seen large anti government protests.[8] The protests have continued into May, and many protesters have been detained by police in Yerevan.[9] Protestors are demanding Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan resign over his handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.[10]
Background
The 2020–2021 Armenian protests resulted in snap parliamentary elections being held on 20 June 2021. Following the election, Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party won a supermajority in parliament and Pashinyan retained his position as Prime Minister.[11] Meanwhile on 13 March 2022, Vahagn Khachaturyan was sworn in as the new President of Armenia.[12]
Protests began in early April 2022 over the implementation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement and a potential peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Nikol Pashinyan and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met in Brussels, Belgium on 6 April 2022 for a joint summit hosted by the European Council. During the summit, both leaders agreed to prepare for negotiations on a bilateral peace agreement.[13] It is feared that Artsakh would be ceded to Azerbaijan as part of a potential peace agreement.[14]
Protesters called on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign and for the government of Armenia to provide security guarantees to Artsakh and ensure that the territory is not conceded to Azerbaijan.[15]
During a speech to the National Assembly on 22 April 2022, Nikol Pashinyan stated, "If we were to surrender Artsakh, we would not have spent tens of billions of drams to ensure the return of Artsakh residents to their homes after the 44-day war" and "Our strategy in the short, medium and long terms is as follows: to ensure a situation or solution whereby the people of Artsakh will continue to live in Artsakh."[16]
Events
April 2022
On 26 April, Anna Grigoryan, a member of the Armenia Alliance of the National Assembly, started a march from the village of Tigranashen in the Ararat region to Yerevan with a group of citizens.[17]
On 27 April, a protest was held outside the Armenian Parliament.[18]
May 2022
On 4 May, protesters blocked major roads in Yerevan. Several rallies were also held outside of parliament.[19]
On 10 May, 61 protesters were arrested in Yerevan.[20]
Response
Artsakh: President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan stated that, "No document on the status of Artsakh is being discussed at this stage" and following a meeting with Nikol Pashinyan that, "the two leaders have a clear agreement that in case of any discussion on the future status of Artsakh at the international level, the position of the Armenian side must be agreed upon with the Artsakh authorities and people."[16]
Azerbaijan: The Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov reportedly "echoed Armenian authorities' statements".[21]
European Union: European Council President Charles Michel held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on 18 April 2022. The European Council President reiterated his support to Pashinyan's efforts to promote a peaceful, stable and secure South Caucasus.[22]
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): On 8 April 2022, the OSCE stated "The OSCE Chairmanship welcomes the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan under the aegis of the President of the European Council and launching the process towards a possible peace agreement."[23]
Russia: The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a press briefing that the crisis was Armenia's internal affair.[24]
United States: The US Department of State has urged Armenian authorities to exercise restraint and encourages anti-government protesters to refrain from violence.[25]
See also
References
- ^ "Գերասիմ Վարդանյանը կալանավորվեց". hraparak.am. 2022-05-12.
- ^ "Բերման ենթարկվածների թիվը հասավ 244-ի, ըստ ոստիկանության, երթևեկությունը մայրաքաղաքի փողոցներում վերականգնված է". Radio Liberty. 2022-05-02.
- ^ "Երևանից ու մարզերից բերման է ենթարկվել 237 ցուցարար․ ոստիկանություն". tert.am. 2022-05-03.
- ^ "Առավոտից բերման է ենթարկվել 24 ցուցարար". FactorTV. 2022-05-04.
- ^ "Երևանի տարբեր հատվածներից ոստիկանության բաժիններ է բերման ենթարկվել 69 քաղաքացի". Aysor. 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Երևանի տարբեր հատվածներից ոստիկանության բաժիններ է բերման ենթարկվել 59 քաղաքացի". Aysor. 2022-05-06.
- ^ "Երևանում ակցիաների ընթացքում բերման է ենթարկվել 61 քաղաքացի". Radio Liberty. 2022-05-10.
- ^ "Armenian police detain protesters calling for PM to step down". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ "Armenia police detain 200 protesters as opposition ups pressure on PM". Al Arabiya English. 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ "Facing Mass Protests Calling For Him To Resign, Armenia's Prime Minister Is Running Out Of Options". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ "Armenian prime minister to step down in April". DWnews. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ "Vahagn Khachaturyan sworn in as 5th President of Armenia". www.armenpress.am/. Armenpress. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
- ^ "Pashinyan ready to recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity". The Armenian Weekly. April 13, 2022.
- ^ "Armenian opposition rallies ahead of Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting". eurasianet.org. Eurasianet. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Thousands of protesters in Armenia demand Prime Minister Pashinyan's resignation". Global Voices. 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ^ a b "Armenia's opposition mobilizes once again to oust Pashinyan". The Armenian Weekly. April 27, 2022.
- ^ LLC, Helix Consulting. "Տիգրանաշենից մեկնարկել է «Դիմադրության շարժման» երթը (Տեսանյութ) - Այսօր` թարմ լուրեր Հայաստանից". www.aysor.am. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ^ LLC, Helix Consulting. "Anti-Pashinyan protest held outside Armenian parliament". www.panorama.am. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ "Protesters demand resignation of Armenian PM, opposition walks out". www.reuters.com. Reuters. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Reuters (2022-05-10). "Armenian police detain 61 at opposition protests, news agencies report". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ LLC, Helix Consulting. "ARF Armenia leader: Azeri foreign minister echoes Armenian authorities' statements". www.panorama.am. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ^ "Fully support to Nikol Pashinyan's efforts: Michel". www.1lurer.am. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ^ "OSCE welcomes meeting of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan".
- ^ "Russia interested in safe development of Armenia- Russian diplomat says". arka.am. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ^ "U.S. Department of State urges Armenian authorities to exercise restraint and encourages anti-government protested to refrain from violence". arka.am. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
