Sargsyan-Pashinyan talks break down
The leader of the opposition parliamentary faction Yelk Nikol Pashinyan, who has been leading anti-government protests since April 13, told his supporters to continue rallies after fruitless five-minute talks with prime minister Serzh Sargsyan at the Marriot-Armenia Hotel today morning.br /
YEREVAN, April 22. /ARKA/. The leader of the opposition parliamentary faction Yelk Nikol Pashinyan, who has been leading anti-government protests since April 13, told his supporters to continue rallies after fruitless five-minute talks with prime minister Serzh Sargsyan at the Marriot-Armenia Hotel today morning.br
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Serzh Sargsyan described the protest actions of the opposition as blackmail and warned that all the responsibility for their continuation would fall on Pashinyan. He said the Yelk faction had no right to speak on behalf of all the citizens, saying also Pashinyan did not learn the lesson of March 1, 2008 ( when ten protesters were killed during a mass demonstration against Sargsyan’s election as president).nbsp;br
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I came here to discuss your resignation, Pashinyan retorted This is not a dialogue, this is blackmail, Sargsyan said before walking out of the meeting room.br
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Speaking to reporters who watched the five-minute talks Pashinyan said the protests will continue throughout the country with redoubled force.nbsp; Pashinyan also noted that according to the law On Freedom of Assembly, if the rally is of a peaceful nature, the police should assist it, even if it does not comply with the procedures of this law.br
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Let no one scare us with bloodshed. I represent hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens. The velvet revolution declared by us enjoys the support of 90% of the country's population. Serzh Sargsyan must immediately resign. If they do not want to have national security problems, they must resign. I am sure that the people will achieve this. I am ready to discuss with Sargsyan his resignation and the handover of the power, he told journalists.br
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The anti-government protests in Armenia began on April 13 after Armenia's ruling Republican Party nominated former president Serzh Sargsyan for the prime minister’s post. Serzh Sargsyan resigned as president on April 9 and was elected as prime minister during a special session of parliament on April 17 by a vote of 77 to 17.br
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According to Armenia’s amended constitution, approved in a national referendum in 2015, Armenia has switchednbsp; the government from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary system making the presidency largely ceremonial and strengthening the office of the prime minister.br
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The protests are led by Nikol Pashinyan, the head of the opposition Yelk parliamentary faction, who declared April 17 the beginning of popular, non-violent velvet revolution urgingnbsp; demonstrators to keep besieging ministries, the prosecutor's office, the central bank and other governmental buildings.br
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Police have arrested hundreds of protesters since Tuesday, including two people they accused of making explosive materials to use in public places. On Saturday alone, authorities detained 84 people allegedly attempting to block streets in the capital. -0-br
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