Anti-government protests bring Armenian capital to a standstill
THE Armenian capital of Yerevan was brought to a standstill yesterday as tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets to block roads and public buildings.
As protesters poured into the capital’s streets to back Nikol Pashinyan, the opposition leader, acts of civil disobedience swept across the small postsoviet nation, nestled in the southern Caucasus region.
The national strike was called by Pashinyan on Tuesday night after the ruling Republican Party faction in parliament scuttled his efforts to secure the post of prime minister one week after Serzh Sargsyan, the long-time leader, resigned in the face of unprecedented public demonstrations.
Protesters began yesterday’s strike at 8.15am by blocking major roads in central Yerevan, as well as a road leading to the city’s airport. Airport workers went on strike, and were later joined by railway and metro workers. The demonstrators’ demands were simple: the government should resign, and Pashinyan should take over.
Sedrak Mkrtchyan, an Armenian journalist, wrote on Twitter that he attempted to keep a running list of strikes and road blockages but gave up just hours into the day’s protests. His
‘ We will win because we are united, the whole Armenian people are united’
list included roads blocked leading to the ministries of foreign affairs, defence and justice. Students at several universities also went on strike. Student Gayane Amiragyan, 19, said: “We will win because we are united, the whole Armenian people are united.”
One video posted on Twitter showed protesters doing traditional Armenian dances in Yerevan’s central Republic Square, while another showed trucks and cars loaded with protesters waving the Armenian flag to a chaotic tune of whistling, cheering and honking.
There have been near perpetual demonstrations since Mr Sargsyan was nominated as prime minister on April 13 in a switch from his role as president, seen as a cynical power grab.
He resigned on April 23 under mounting public pressure, and Mr Pashinyan became the only nominee from any party to replace him. However, MPS refused to support the opposition leader, leading to a rudderless government.
Later yesterday, Mr Pashinyan declared a one-day pause in protests to give him time to discuss with the ruling party if it is willing to back his bid to become prime minister. The ruling party said they would back “the people’s candidate”.
The parliament will reconvene to attempt to select a prime minister on May 8. If the Republican faction obstructs his candidacy on the next round, the body will be dissolved and reformed via a general election.