Anti-governmental protests resume in Yerevan

Today, on April 20, protests resumed in Armenia against election of ex-president Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister. Protesters block city streets, sit in front of vehicles or leave their cars amid roads and highways to block traffic. Police have detained 16 protesters, including activists David Sanasaryan, David Petrosyan and Shahen Haroutiunyan.

“This is a wave-like process, a Velvet Revolution,” says Nikol Pashinyan, leader of #MyStep movement, oppositionist parliamentarian. He thanked Diaspora representatives, especially compatriots in Moscow and Los-Angeles for supporting the protests.

Yesterday, Pashinyan urged owners of heavy vehicles to join the protests by blocking streets with their vehicles.

To recall, protests and civil disobedience actions initiated by Nikol Pashinyan, oppositionist MP, leader of #MyStep movement, are aimed against election of Serzh Sargsyan, the ex-president, leader of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) as prime minister. Protesters planned to block the avenue leading to the parliament building on April 17 to prevent voting for Serzh Sargsyan’s election as prime minister. However, the police took unprecedented measures to lead parliamentarians into the building and ensure the voting. The parliament was surrounded with police, special equipment and wired fencing from all sides.

Serzh Sargsyan was elected as prime minister with 77 votes “for” and 17 votes “against.”

Pashinyan announced a start of a “Velvet Revolution” and urged protesters to block governmental buildings.