Opposition Leader in Armenia: Protests Will Continue

Nikol Pashinyan, the opposition leader in Armenia, stated that political protests in Yerevan will continue since Karen Karapetyan, the acting Prime Minister, has rejected his request for a meeting. While it has been announced that on May 1 (Ordibehesht 11), the parliament will decide on the election of a new Prime Minister of Armenia, Mr. Pashinyan has designated this day for widespread demonstrations. Mr. Pashinyan had proposed to meet with the acting Prime Minister on April 27 (Ordibehesht 7) at the Marriott Hotel in Armenia to discuss a peaceful transfer of power. He insisted that this meeting be conducted in the presence of journalists and broadcast live by the media. Aram Araratyan, spokesperson for the acting Prime Minister of Armenia, stated: 'The Prime Minister's view was that such a conversation would not be like a negotiation and would rather seem as if one person wants to dictate their opinion to another. When someone cannot put their agenda up for discussion, then it is no longer called negotiation.' Aram Araratyan wrote on his Facebook page: 'Karen Karapetyan also believes that conducting a dialogue in front of the cameras and media means that such a meeting will not yield any results.' The rejection of the meeting request with the opposition leader was announced after Karen Karapetyan had a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, the day before. Russia is Armenia's closest ally and economic partner. Following the acting Prime Minister's absence from this meeting, Mr. Pashinyan told the media that on May 1, while the parliament is set to officially elect a Prime Minister, hundreds of thousands of people will take to the streets. He added that he welcomes early elections, but only if the electoral process and voting are 'truly democratic.' Nikol Pashinyan also stated that he is the only suitable candidate to take over the premiership. He told his supporters in Republic Square in Yerevan: 'Either I become Prime Minister through the people, at their request and with their support, or no Prime Minister will be elected for the Republic of Armenia.' Nikol Pashinyan said: 'We have no compromise with a corrupt system that is against national interests.' Serge Sargsyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, resigned on Monday, Ordibehesht 3, after a 10-day protest by opponents demanding his resignation. According to a report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, thousands of people in Armenia protested after the government-opposition negotiations were canceled. The Armenian parliament will vote next week to elect a Prime Minister.