YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Opposition leader Nikol Pashinian and thousands of his supporters again marched unimpeded to Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian’s office in Yerevan late on Wednesday in continuing protest against his decade-long rule.
As was the case earlier in the day, riot police did not stop them from approaching the compound where Sarkisian worked in his previous capacity as president of the republic. Hundreds of baton-wielding officers led by the commander of Armenian interior troops were deployed in and around it.
Pashinian told the protesters to applaud the security forces when they reached a section of Marshal Bagramian Avenue facing the former presidential palace. “We wish the policemen good night and good service,” he said.
The crowd walked back to downtown Yerevan several minutes later.
The 42-year-old leader of the opposition Civil Contract party led the crowd to the prime minister’s office after holding another rally in the city’s main Republic Square. He seemed to have attracted fewer people than the previous night.
In a long speech, Pashinian pledged to continue his anti-government “velvet resolution” aimed at unseating Sarkisian. “This process must gain new momentum every day, and Serzh Sarkisian must feel isolated in his newly privatized mansion,” he said.
Pashinian urged supporters to gather in the vast square and block entrances to government buildings the following morning in order to prevent their employees from going to work. He declined to specify which buildings he is planning to block, noting only that Sarkisian will be holding his first cabinet meeting on Thursday. “We have prepared a surprise for Serzh Sarkisian,” he said without elaborating.
Pashinian also defended his decision to encourage not only university students but also underage Armenians to participate in his daily protests. What is more, he urged high school students across the country to boycott classes.
According to the police, 20 of 87 protesters detained and held in custody for several hours on Wednesday were minors. The Armenian Ministry of Education issued a statement urging the protest organizers to discourage schoolchildren from taking to the streets.
Perhaps the march should be directed further north to Moscow. After all, the template for political musical chairs began with the Putin and Medvedev ploy.
Serge AND his whole gang of cronies and oligarchs must go.
ARMENIANS HAVE THE RIGHT FOR FREEDOM ,JUSTICE AND A GOOD ECONOMY, I BELIEVE THAT THE WEST AND SOME OF ITS NEIGHBORS WANT CHAOS IN ARMENIA FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH INTEREST,AND AWAY FROM RUSSIAN INFLUENCE, LETS NOT BE NAIVE LOOK HOW THE WORLD IS BEING MANIPULATED BY POWERFUL COUNTRIES, I WOULD CHOOSE RUSSIA AS ARMENIA’S FRIEND AT THIS CRITICAL JUNCTURE
Agreed with your post. These zombies on the streets don’t know what awaits them.