Armenian Prime Minister Resigns from Office

Serzh Sargsyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, resigned from his position on Monday, April 22, following 10 days of protests by opponents demanding his resignation. In a statement published on his website, Sargsyan addressed his resignation. This statement came after protests continued for the eleventh consecutive day on Monday, April 22, calling for Sargsyan's resignation. The news of Sargsyan's resignation was announced shortly after Nikol Pashinyan, the leader of the opposition in Armenia, was released from police custody a day after his arrest and joined the protesters in central Yerevan. Pashinyan was arrested on Sunday after an unsuccessful meeting with Prime Minister Sargsyan, during which Sargsyan left the meeting after facing calls for his resignation. Nikol Pashinyan, a prominent opposition figure in the Armenian parliament, has been leading the protests that have been ongoing for the past 10 days. Protesters accused Sargsyan of trying to consolidate power in the country by transitioning from the presidency, where he served for 10 years, to the prime ministership. On Monday, it was also reported that dozens of soldiers from the army had joined the protesters and participated in the demonstrations. However, the Armenian Ministry of Defense stated that it would deal harshly with this group of military personnel. Regarding the recent dispute in Armenia, the United States urged both sides to show restraint and avoid violence, while Russia stated that laws should not be violated. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe also expressed concern over police violence and called on Armenian authorities to support civil rights and protests in the country.