Armenian leaders face crunch talks after protests
BBC, April 22, 2018
The
organiser of anti-government protests in Armenia says he will hold talks with
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan early on Sunday.
organiser of anti-government protests in Armenia says he will hold talks with
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan early on Sunday.
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Opposition
leader Nikol Pashinyan has called for a “velvet revolution” |
Nikol
Pashinyan has been leading calls for Mr Sargsyan to resign over a
constitutional change that opponents say is an attempt to retain power.
The
change transferred significant power to the prime minister, a role Mr Sargsyan
only took on last week.
change transferred significant power to the prime minister, a role Mr Sargsyan
only took on last week.
He
stepped down as president after reaching his two-term limit.
stepped down as president after reaching his two-term limit.
Mr
Pashinyan says he is only prepared to discuss the details of the prime
minister’s resignation and the logistics of transferring power.
Pashinyan says he is only prepared to discuss the details of the prime
minister’s resignation and the logistics of transferring power.
On
Saturday, he told thousands of protesters gathered on Republic Square in the
capital Yerevan that Mr Sargsyan did not understand the “new reality”
in Armenia.
Saturday, he told thousands of protesters gathered on Republic Square in the
capital Yerevan that Mr Sargsyan did not understand the “new reality”
in Armenia.
But Mr
Sargsyan has called for dialogue to avoid what he termed “irreversible
consequences”.
Sargsyan has called for dialogue to avoid what he termed “irreversible
consequences”.
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Riot
police have been holding back the protesters |
Riot
police have been facing off with crowds of demonstrators for days and scuffles
have broken out, with a number of arrests. Many
Armenians want to see genuine change in their country but they feel that they
are being deprived of that opportunity because the leadership remains the same,
the BBC’s Rayhan Demytrie reports.
police have been facing off with crowds of demonstrators for days and scuffles
have broken out, with a number of arrests. Many
Armenians want to see genuine change in their country but they feel that they
are being deprived of that opportunity because the leadership remains the same,
the BBC’s Rayhan Demytrie reports.
Mr
Pashinyan’s announcement that he will hold talks with the prime minister
followed a dramatic intervention from the country’s new president.
Pashinyan’s announcement that he will hold talks with the prime minister
followed a dramatic intervention from the country’s new president.
Armen
Sargsyan – who is not related to Serzh Sargsyan – walked through crowds of
protesters to shake hands with Mr Pashinyan and reportedly to propose formal
talks.
Sargsyan – who is not related to Serzh Sargsyan – walked through crowds of
protesters to shake hands with Mr Pashinyan and reportedly to propose formal
talks.
They
talked for about 10 minutes, reporters say, with Mr Sargsyan suggesting they
move to a hotel to hold proper negotiations.
talked for about 10 minutes, reporters say, with Mr Sargsyan suggesting they
move to a hotel to hold proper negotiations.
Mr
Pashinyan declined the offer of immediate talks but asked for a guarantee that
force would not be used against the demonstrators.
Pashinyan declined the offer of immediate talks but asked for a guarantee that
force would not be used against the demonstrators.
Escorted
by his bodyguards, the president then walked back to his car and left as the crowd
chanted “Take a step – overthrow Serzh”.
by his bodyguards, the president then walked back to his car and left as the crowd
chanted “Take a step – overthrow Serzh”.
Why is
there such anger at Serzh Sargsyan?
there such anger at Serzh Sargsyan?
Mr
Pashinyan recently described the action he leads as a “velvet
revolution”, referring to the peaceful protests in 1989 that ended
communist rule in Czechoslovakia (which later split into two states, the Czech
Republic and Slovakia).
Pashinyan recently described the action he leads as a “velvet
revolution”, referring to the peaceful protests in 1989 that ended
communist rule in Czechoslovakia (which later split into two states, the Czech
Republic and Slovakia).
The
veteran opposition activist, who was jailed over his part in violent protests
against Mr Sargsyan in 2008, called on supporters to “paralyse the entire
state system” because “power should pass to the people”.
veteran opposition activist, who was jailed over his part in violent protests
against Mr Sargsyan in 2008, called on supporters to “paralyse the entire
state system” because “power should pass to the people”.
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Here
Serzh Sargsyan’s face is scored out on a poster |
While
president, Serzh Sargsyan said he had no intention of becoming prime minister
at the end of his second five-year term.
However,
on Tuesday he was chosen by parliament to serve as prime minister.
on Tuesday he was chosen by parliament to serve as prime minister.
In 2008,
when Mr Sargsyan was first elected president, demonstrations erupted, with
protesters alleging vote-rigging. At least eight people died in clashes with
the authorities.
when Mr Sargsyan was first elected president, demonstrations erupted, with
protesters alleging vote-rigging. At least eight people died in clashes with
the authorities.
His
supporters argue that the tough veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war with
Azerbaijan in the late 1980s has provided the national security Armenia needs
but he has been accused of failing to address continuing tensions with
Azerbaijan and Turkey.
supporters argue that the tough veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war with
Azerbaijan in the late 1980s has provided the national security Armenia needs
but he has been accused of failing to address continuing tensions with
Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Closer to
home, critics have identified his rule with widespread poverty and
over-dependence on Russia.
home, critics have identified his rule with widespread poverty and
over-dependence on Russia.
