Thousands of Armenians join protest demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation
- Many Armenians accuse their government of capitulating by ceding land that has been controlled by forces loyal to Armenia for decades
- Opposition parties have come out in support of former prime minister Wagen Manukjan as Pashinyan’s successor
More than 15,000 people joined a protest in Armenia calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, in the biggest demonstration yet sparked by last month's agreement to end a recent war with Azerbaijan.
Representatives of the influential Armenian Apostolic Church were present at the protest. Pashinyan, who last month signed a peace agreement with regional rival Azerbaijan, ceding control of large areas of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, was denounced by protesters as a “traitor."
The ceasefire deal, brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, entered into force on November 10 and is monitored by 2,000 Russian peacekeepers.
Armenia has committed to surrender large areas of the territory in the Southern Caucasus. Azerbaijan has celebrated the agreement as a victory. Many Armenians accuse their government of capitulating by ceding land that has been controlled by forces loyal to Armenia for decades.
Pashinyan has since repeatedly refused to resign.
A group of 17 Armenian opposition parties have now come out in support of former prime minister Wagen Manukjan as Pashinyan's successor.
The 74-year-old led what was then a Soviet republic to independence 30 years ago.
