Newly elected Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian has resigned following days of protests
Mon Apr 23, 2018 01:32:pm Politics
3.6K By Obiaks Blog
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan has resigned following days of large-scale street protests against him.
Opposition supporters accused Mr Sargsyan of clinging to power when he was appointed prime minister last Tuesday, soon after finishing two five-year terms as president.
"The street movement is against my tenure. I am fulfilling your demand," he said in a statement.
It is not clear when his resignation will take effect.
The announcement came soon after opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was released from detention. Mr Pashinyan had been arrested on Sunday after televised talks with Mr Sargsyan collapsed.
As well as Mr Pashinyan, two other opposition politicians and some 200 demonstrators were held.
In his statement published on his website, Mr Sargsyan said he was "addressing all citizens of the Republic of Armenia... for the last time as leader of the country."
"Nikol Pashinyan was right. I was wrong," he said. "The situation has several solutions, but I will not take any of them... I am leaving office of the country's leader, of Prime Minister."
Hundreds of soldiers joined the opposition protesters on Monday, calling for Mr Sargsyan to step down, despite warnings from the defence ministry that any soldiers protesting would be harshly punished.
Why were there protests?
In 2015, Armenians voted in a referendum to shift the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system, stripping powers from the president and giving them to the prime minister.
The vote was marred by allegations of ballot rigging and claims Mr Sargsyan wanted to simply switch office after his presidency ended.
The ex-president had formally stated he would "not aspire" to the prime ministerial position.
But on Tuesday last week the country's parliament officially confirmed Mr Sargsyan in the post.
Protesters had poured into the streets in the days beforehand to try to stop the parliament from passing the measure, and clashed with police.
On the day of the confirmation, Mr Pashinyan said the demonstrations constituted a "non-violent velvet revolution".
Who is Serzh Sargsyan?
Mr Sargsyan served two consecutive terms as president of Armenia, starting in 2008 and ending on 9 April this year.
His initial election in 2008 prompted deadly clashes between the state and opposition supporters. At least eight people died.
Mr Sargsyan won a second five-year term in 2013. Several of his opponents dropped out of the race and one candidate was shot in a suspected assassination attempt.
He was accused of failing to address continuing tensions with Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as widespread poverty at home.
His government has also been criticised by the opposition for its close ties to Russia, whose leader Vladimir Putin also moved between the positions of president and prime minister to maintain his grip on power.
BBC
Opposition supporters accused Mr Sargsyan of clinging to power when he was appointed prime minister last Tuesday, soon after finishing two five-year terms as president.
"The street movement is against my tenure. I am fulfilling your demand," he said in a statement.
It is not clear when his resignation will take effect.
The announcement came soon after opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was released from detention. Mr Pashinyan had been arrested on Sunday after televised talks with Mr Sargsyan collapsed.
As well as Mr Pashinyan, two other opposition politicians and some 200 demonstrators were held.
In his statement published on his website, Mr Sargsyan said he was "addressing all citizens of the Republic of Armenia... for the last time as leader of the country."
"Nikol Pashinyan was right. I was wrong," he said. "The situation has several solutions, but I will not take any of them... I am leaving office of the country's leader, of Prime Minister."
Hundreds of soldiers joined the opposition protesters on Monday, calling for Mr Sargsyan to step down, despite warnings from the defence ministry that any soldiers protesting would be harshly punished.
Why were there protests?
In 2015, Armenians voted in a referendum to shift the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system, stripping powers from the president and giving them to the prime minister.
The vote was marred by allegations of ballot rigging and claims Mr Sargsyan wanted to simply switch office after his presidency ended.
The ex-president had formally stated he would "not aspire" to the prime ministerial position.
But on Tuesday last week the country's parliament officially confirmed Mr Sargsyan in the post.
Protesters had poured into the streets in the days beforehand to try to stop the parliament from passing the measure, and clashed with police.
On the day of the confirmation, Mr Pashinyan said the demonstrations constituted a "non-violent velvet revolution".
Who is Serzh Sargsyan?
Mr Sargsyan served two consecutive terms as president of Armenia, starting in 2008 and ending on 9 April this year.
His initial election in 2008 prompted deadly clashes between the state and opposition supporters. At least eight people died.
Mr Sargsyan won a second five-year term in 2013. Several of his opponents dropped out of the race and one candidate was shot in a suspected assassination attempt.
He was accused of failing to address continuing tensions with Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as widespread poverty at home.
His government has also been criticised by the opposition for its close ties to Russia, whose leader Vladimir Putin also moved between the positions of president and prime minister to maintain his grip on power.
BBC
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