Unrest in Yerevan: 46 people were hospitalized

In Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, a protest is taking place against the appointment of former President Serzh Sargsyan as Prime Minister of the country. On April 16, the action turned into clashes between participants and the police.

Фото: Depositphotos

During the clashes, an 46 man was injured, among them one of the leaders of the protest and 6 police, writes with the BBC.

The head of the Civil Contract party, Nikol Pashinyan, was taken to the hospital with lacerations.

“During the clash, Pashinyan fell on barbed wire and received lacerations,” said Tigran Avinyan, a spokesman for the “Exit” parliamentary faction, which includes the politician.

According to doctors, most of the victims have light, not life-threatening injuries.

A few hours earlier, Pashinyan called on the protesters to go to the parliament building, where some of the demonstrators managed to break through the police cordon. In response, law enforcement officers used tear gas, there were sounds of clapping. Prior to that, the police did not intervene.

Many injured in @Yerevan as protesters clash with police pic.twitter.com/LccOyUwzgP

- Maria Titizian (@MariaTitizian) April 16, 2018

On Monday morning, the participants of the action blocked several central streets of Yerevan. Several dozen protesters entered the building of the Armenian State Pedagogical University and called on students to join the protests.

Rallies of opponents of Sargsyan in Yerevan are already the third day, from April 14. On Sunday, Nikol Pashinyan announced a plan for mass actions, calling on supporters to block bridges, streets and block metro stations.

Voting on the appointment of Sargsyan to the post of Prime Minister should be held 17 April.

Sargsyan holds top positions in Armenia since 2007: he was elected president in 2008 and re-elected in 2013, after which Armenia began a transition to a parliamentary form of government with the extension of the powers of the prime minister and the truncation of the powers of the president.

If Sargsyan becomes Prime Minister, he will remain in this position until 2022.

15 April Nikol Pashinyan urged citizens to block traffic on the bridges, leaving their cars there, and on foot heading towards the National Assembly building.

“Students should start a boycott of classes, all workers should go on strike. Then after 9 o’clock we will move towards Baghramyan Avenue and enter the parliament building,” Pashinyan promised.

According to him, he hoped that the police would not have time to react to the actions of the protesters and would not dare to use force if thousands of citizens at the same time begin to implement this plan.

“The key to our success is unity, and I believe in you all. Success awaits us!” Pashinyan promised.

Pashinyan also said that “the actions will not go beyond the bounds of legality, but will have the character of peaceful civil disobedience,” the goal of which is “to ensure that the parliamentary meeting on April 17, during which the election of the Prime Minister of Armenia will take place, does not take place.” .

Protests against the possible premiership of Sargsyan by the “Take a Step”, “Reject Serge” and the Front for the Armenian State movements have been held since the end of March.

Nikol Pashinyan and a group of activists from the “Take a Step” movement he leads began a march on March 31, walking more than 200 km through several cities and regions of Armenia, calling on citizens to actively participate in political processes.

Rallies in Freedom Square against the possible premiership of the former President of Armenia went into a round-the-clock rally in the neighboring square of France.

The protesters blocked all three avenues through the square with benches. Hundreds of people stay on the square of France around the clock, during the day arranging rallies and processions.

On April 14, local police issued a warning that Pashinyan could be prosecuted for his actions.

On this day, demonstrators broke into the building of the Public Radio; Nikol Pashinyan demanded to give him a live broadcast to address the public.

“We are now here protesting against the fact that a huge part of the Armenian media has become the property of Serzh Sargsyan’s family,” he said in his speech.

On April 9, the inauguration of the elected President of Armenia Armen Sargsyan, the former Ambassador of Armenia to the UK, took place. On the same day, after two terms, the authority of President Serzh Sargsyan ceased, and the Armenian government resigned.

Armen Sargsyan became the first President of Armenia, who was elected by the parliament in accordance with the Constitution adopted in 2015, providing for the country's transition to a parliamentary form of government.

On April 14, the executive body of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, at the suggestion of RPA First Deputy Chairman Karen Karapetyan, decided to submit the candidacy of party leader Serzh Sargsyan to the RPA Council for the post of Prime Minister of Armenia. The Board unanimously approved the nominee.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Reddit Creator Alexis Oganyan: The Success Story of the Armenian “Internet Mayor” from Brooklyn

What citizenship is more valuable and why Russia has 60 in the world

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.