Protests begin in Yerevan demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pashinyan

Protesters in Yerevan came to the parliament building and demanded the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, informed Sputnik Armenia Telegram channel.

The reason for the protests was the Prime Minister’s statement about the signing of a certain document with Azerbaijan. Later, Pashinyan stated on his social media page that he was not going to sign any documents. “Dear fellow citizens, I urge and ask you not to succumb to manipulation. No document has been signed and is not being prepared for signing. This is information sabotage, which is directed by unfriendly forces in order to break the country’s resistance,” he said.

The National Security Service of Armenia also statedthat not a single document has been signed or is being prepared for signing, and we are only talking about readiness in the future to sign a document that will ensure the security and sovereignty of the country.

The situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated on the night of September 13. According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, Azerbaijani troops fired on the border settlements in the south-east of the country – Sotk, Goris and Jermuk.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, in turn, blamed Armenia for the escalation of the situation. They noted that the Armenian side has been “intensively shelling” the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the Kalbajar, Lachin, Dashkesan and Gadabay directions for the last month. In addition, Armenia mined areas and supply routes between the positions of the Azerbaijani army, the ministry added. Later, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported the death of 50 Azerbaijani servicemen during the fighting on the border. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan later announced 105 dead.

After the night shelling, the Armenian government turned to Russia, the CSTO and the UN Security Council. Pashinyan also called Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. As a result, Baku and Yerevan, through the mediation of Moscow, were able to agree on a ceasefire from 09:00 Moscow time. On the same day, an emergency meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council was held.

But on the morning of September 14, shelling continued. The Armenian Defense Ministry reported that the Azerbaijani military used artillery, mortars and other weapons in the direction of the Armenian settlements of Jermuk and Verin Shorzha.

In April, residents of Yerevan already demanded Pashinyan’s resignation after his statements about Nagorno-Karabakh. He noted that the international community insists on lowering the requirements for the status of the republic and not questioning the integrity of Azerbaijan. The opposition accuses Pashinyan of intending to sign a document that leaves Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. Pashinyan himself stated that if a draft document on the settlement of the conflict appears, he intends to discuss it with the public and only then make a decision.

On May 1, protest actions became massive – the protesters set up a tent camp in the center of Yerevan. In addition to Yerevan, processions were also held in Gyumri. Protest actions lasted until mid June.