2020–2021 Armenian protests
The 2020−2021 Armenian protests (also known as the March of Dignity;[15] Armenian: Արժանապատվության երթ, romanized: Arzhanapatvut'yan yert'[16]) were a series of protests that began following the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement on 10 November 2020. After Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that he signed an agreement to cede Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan and put an end to six weeks of hostilities over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, thousands of people took to the streets, and hundreds stormed the Parliament building in the capital Yerevan.[17] Protests continued throughout November, with demonstrations in Yerevan and other cities demanding the resignation of Nikol Pashinyan.[18]
2020−2021 Armenian protests
10 November 2020 – 25 April 2021
- A cease-fire agreement signed by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan
- Government mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Cancellation of the ceasefire agreement in Nagorno-Karabakh (previously)
- Resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (succeeded)
- Formation of a 1-year interim national unity government followed by snap elections[1]
Demonstrations, civil unrest, street blockades
Ended
- Failed coup d'état attempt
- Fresh parliamentary election
- Resignation of Nikol Pashinyan to trigger snap elections
- Nikol Pashinyan continues to serve as interim prime minister until 20 June elections
- Nikol Pashinyan reelected in 20 June elections
The protests were led by two different political coalitions: the National Democratic Pole, a pro-Western and pro-European alliance consisting of several political figures, and the Homeland Salvation Movement, a pro-Russian alliance consisting of several opposition parties. The former ruling Republican Party, the largest opposition party in parliament at the time, Prosperous Armenia, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation joined the Homeland Salvation Movement. On 3 December 2020, the Homeland Salvation Movement announced former prime minister Vazgen Manukyan as their candidate to lead an interim government for a period of one year. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Pole, led by the Sasna Tsrer Pan-Armenian Party and formerly the European Party of Armenia, had also proposed for itself to lead an interim government for a period of one year.
In addition to the two political coalitions, numerous public figures had called on Prime Minister Pashinyan to resign, including the then president of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, both catholicoi of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II and Aram I, and Edmon Marukyan leader of the then third-largest party in parliament Bright Armenia (who announced his own candidacy for the office of prime minister) as well as several regional governors and mayors.[1] In early December, the ban on mass gatherings and strikes stipulated by martial law imposed in September was lifted.[19] On 22 December, a general strike was called that reinvigorated the protests.
On 25 February 2021, Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan and more than 40 other high-ranking military officers issued a statement calling for Pashinyan's resignation, which Pashinyan denounced as an attempted military coup.[20] On 18 March 2021, Pashinyan announced early parliamentary elections, to take place on 20 June 2021. Pashinyan confirmed he would resign as Prime Minister in April 2021 but would continue to serve as interim prime minister until snap elections were held.[21]
Background[edit]
During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which began on 27 September 2020, Azerbaijani forces seized control of many settlements, including the strategically important city of Shusha after a three-day-long battle. The war ended in an Azerbaijani victory on 9 November, and a ceasefire was signed between both parties and Russia.[17] According to the agreement, Armenian and Azerbaijani forces will remain in their positions until Armenia returns territories it occupied surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh (Kalbajar, Aghdam, and Lachin Districts excluding the Lachin Corridor) back to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan will retain all territories gained during the war, and around 2,000 Russian peacekeeping forces will be deployed in the remaining territory.[22] While the deal was widely celebrated in Azerbaijan,[23][24] it was viewed as a disastrous defeat in Armenia, and some Armenians quickly took to the streets. Protestors called Prime Minister Pashinyan a "traitor", and demanded him to step down, nullify the peace agreement, and restart the war.[25]
Protests[edit]
10 November[edit]
On 10 November, when the protests erupted, there were fights as protesters tried to get over to the podium to speak and were shouted down, with some throwing bottles.[26] Protesters also seized the parliament building by breaking a metal door, and pulled the President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan from a car, demanding to know the whereabouts of Pashinyan. He was beaten by the protesters and later taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery and was said to be in good condition.[27]
The Prime Minister's daughter Mariam Pashinyan said on her Facebook page that the demonstrators entered the room of her younger sisters.[28] The AFP news agency reported that the police authorities who were present did little to prevent the disorder and people roamed the hallways of the government building, where the doors had been opened and the contents in the offices were thrown around.[26]
11 November[edit]
At about 04:00, a group of approximately 40 people attempted to break into the Yerevan office of Azatutyun, the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Executive producer Artak Hambardzumyan said that the group first shouted at the Azatutyun offices, calling its employees "Turks" and traitors, and demanded that its journalists leave the country. The attackers also kicked and punched the office door, unsuccessfully trying to break in and "take Azatutyun’s server."[29] The protesters also ransacked the Open Society Foundation office in downtown Yerevan.[30] On the same day, six people were detained on suspicion of organizing mass riots, and calling to seize power and to overthrow the constitutional order.[31]
The Armenian Prosecutor General's Office urged the citizens to refrain from organizing, holding or participating in rallies,[32] while clashes broke out between the protestors, who were chanting "Nikol is a traitor!",[33] and the Armenian security forces on Freedom Square in Yerevan, where three law enforcement officers were injured.[34] The protesters then moved to the building of the Government of Armenia.[35] The Armenian opposition announced the creation of the National Salvation Committee in response to the arrests.[36] The protests concluded at late night.[37]
12 November[edit]
At midday, a small group of protesters gathered at the Matenadaran Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts and at the Yerevan Opera Theatre, demanding the release of political prisoners[38] and Pashinyan's resignation.[39] Then, the opposition party Sasna Tsrer held a rally on Yerevan's Freedom Square.[40] The Armenian police, having pulled up additional forces to the area, broke up the rally and arrested its participants.[41]
Arrests[edit]
As of 11 November, more than 362 people have been detained by the Armenian police for participating in the protests.[11][12][13][14]
On 11 November, Armenian law enforcement officers detained Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (Tsarukyan was released the next day),[81] while Armenia's ex-president Serzh Sargsyan was summoned by the Armenian National Security Service for questioning.[82] Then, the National Security Service arrested Eduard Sharmazanov, the press secretary of the Republican Party and the former deputy chairman of the Armenian National Assembly.[83] He was released the next day and later charged with "organization of mass disorder".[84] On 12 November, Artsvik Minasyan, member of the supreme body of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Arsen Babayan, member of the Homeland Party, and Ara Hakobyan, chairman of the National Agenda Party, were all summoned by the Armenian NSS.[85] Babayan was later charged with "organization of mass disorder".[86] On the same day, one of the organizers of the rallies, opposition politician and ex-director of the National Security Service Artur Vanetsyan, was arrested for plotting to overthrow the government and kill the country's prime minister Nikol Pashinyan.[87] Vanetsyan, alongside the ex-head of the Republican Party Vahram Baghdasaryan, ARF politician Ashot Avagyan,[88] as well as commander of the Sisian Volunteer Detachment Ashot Minasyan were charged.[89] All four were released days later after a Yerevan court ruled their detention unlawful.[90][91] On 13 November, chairman of the supreme council of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Ishkhan Saghatelyan was summoned to the NSS.[92] On 14 November, another ARF politician Artsvik Minasyan was detained,[93] while MPs representing the Prosperous Armenia Party Naira Zohrabyan, Shake Isayan, Iveta Tonoyan, Vahe Enfiajyan, Gevorg Petrosyan, and Mikayel Melkumyan were summoned to the NSS.[94] On 20 November, former head of the parliamentary staff Ara Saghatelyan, ex-adviser to the President of Artsakh Tigran Abrahamyan, ex-MP Mihran Hakobyan,[95] activist Narek Malyan,[96] and almost all members of the Adekvad initiative[97] were detained; Malyan and Hakobyan were released the next day. Mihran Hakobyan was charged with "organizing mass disorder" on 26 November.[98]
Analysis[edit]
Prior to the general strike, the Director of the Yerevan-based Center for Regional Studies Richard Giragosian stated that he does not expect a sharp change of power due to the rather small scale of the protests and the unpopularity of the opposition. However, he stressed that Pashinyan needs to restore peace and confidence in the coming weeks, which, will not be easy.
EurasiaNet editor Joshua Kucera stated that the Pashinyan government is under threat as many Armenians feel betrayed. "He has many political opponents, and they want to seize the moment to overthrow him."[99]