In a surprise, Armenian parliament selects pro-democracy leader as prime minister
MOSCOW — After weeks of rallies and unrest, Armenia’s bloodless revolution secured victory on Tuesday when parliament selected protest leader Nikol Pashinian as prime minister, making a dramatic break with the ruling elite in the former Soviet country.
Upon hearing the news, a huge crowd of around 100,000 in the main square of the capital, Yerevan, burst into cheers, Armenian news outlet CivilNet showed on its live feed.
The 42-year-old secured the vote after his pro-democracy movement ousted former prime minister Serzh Sargsyan after more than a decade in power.
Capping weeks of nationwide strikes and protests, parliament voted 5942 in favor of Mr. Pashinian. Charismatic and fiery, Mr. Pashinian had persuaded some lawmakers from the ruling Republican Party to cross party lines and vote for him — something unthinkable just a short while ago.
At first, his quest to overthrow the government whose leaders have ruled Armenia since the 1990s felt quixotic. But then he garnered an enormous amount of support from the streets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin — inaugurated a day earlier for his fourth term — rushed to congratulate Mr. Pashinian, in what felt like part approval, part caution.
“I hope that your work as head of government will promote stronger friendly and allied relations between our countries,” Mr. Putin wrote in a telegram, saying this should take place within the framework of security and trade agreements Armenia has established with Russia.
Russian media said Mr. Pashinian will visit the Black Sea resort of Sochi next week for a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union, an alternative to the European Union comprising a small group of former Soviet states.