Thousands of protesters gathered in Yerevan, Armenia, to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan due to his government’s decision to hand over control of border villages to Azerbaijan. This decision came after Azerbaijan waged a military campaign in Nagorno-Karabakh, causing tension between the two countries. The protesters, led by a senior cleric, gathered in Republic Square to show their opposition to the prime minister’s actions.
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan gave Pashinyan one hour to resign, blaming him for the loss of Armenian territory and urging the protesters to engage in peaceful acts of disobedience if their demands were not met. Pashinyan visited Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as tensions between Armenia and Russia grew. The meeting took place after Putin’s inauguration for his fifth term at the Kremlin, where Armenia’s prime minister was notably absent. The two leaders agreed to remove Russian forces from some Armenian regions amid discussions on security in the region.
Armenia’s ties with Russia have been strained since Azerbaijan’s military campaign in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Armenian authorities accusing Russian peacekeepers of failing to stop Azerbaijan’s advances. Russia, which has a military base in Armenia, has denied these accusations and expressed concern over Armenia’s efforts to deepen ties with the West. Armenia’s decision to stop paying fees to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-dominated security pact, further strained the relationship between the two countries.
Pashinyan’s efforts to bolster ties with the European Union and NATO, as well as Armenia’s decision to join the International Criminal Court, have also caused tensions with Russia. Moscow has publicly voiced concerns about Armenia’s westward shift but has expressed a willingness to continue dialogue with the country. Despite the challenges in their relationship, there is still a political will to address the differences and continue discussions on regional security and economic cooperation.
The protests in Yerevan reflect the deep divisions within Armenia over the government’s decision to hand over control of border villages to Azerbaijan. The demonstrators are calling for the prime minister’s resignation, citing concerns over the loss of Armenian territory. The situation is further complicated by Armenia’s strained relationship with Russia, its historical ally, as tensions continue to escalate between the two countries. The outcome of the protests and the ongoing discussions between Armenia and Russia will have significant implications for the region’s security and political dynamics.
