From the Armenian demonstrations (Reuters)
Dubai – Al Arabiya.net
Published on: September 21, 2023: 12:03 AM GST Last updated: September 21, 2023: 12:32 AM GST
Thousands of Armenians demonstrated on Wednesday in front of the headquarters of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan to protest the crisis in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, according to an Agence France-Presse correspondent, who also reported the outbreak of confrontations between demonstrators and the police.
A day after Azerbaijan launched a military operation in Karabakh, the separatists agreed to lay down their arms and begin talks on reintegrating the disputed region.
Armenian opposition politicians called for Pashinyan’s trial, accusing him of abandoning the Armenian majority in Nagorno-Karabakh after the separatists surrendered to Azerbaijani forces.
“Russia has washed its hands”
Avetik Chalabian addressed the crowd, saying, “Russia has washed its hands of Artsakh. Our authorities have abandoned Artsakh,” using the name that Armenia gives to the Karabakh region.
He also added, “The enemy is at our doorstep. We must change our powers to change national policy.”
Representative Ashkhan Sagatilyan called on the opposition in Parliament to launch the process of trying and removing the Prime Minister.
Sarkis Hayats, 20, who works in the music field, agreed that Pashinyan “must go,” adding to AFP, “We are losing our homeland and our people.”
Angry demonstrators
“Everyone has left Artsakh, my country has become without help,” said 47-year-old Hasmik Manukyan, crying, using the name Armenia gives to Karabakh.
He added that his country’s authorities “believe that Artsakh constitutes an unnecessary burden on Armenia, but it is not so.”
As for Suren Javulyan, 26 years old, he confirmed, “We will stay here and organize demonstrations,” noting that “if the Armenians unite, the enemy will not win.”
Later, an Agence France-Presse correspondent reported that demonstrators threw stones and bottles at police officers while they were arresting demonstrators in front of the government headquarters.
The police wave special measures
The police also used sound bombs and warned that they would resort to “special measures” if the demonstrators did not disperse in front of the headquarters, according to the same source.
From the Armenian demonstrations (Reuters)
After his rapid rise to power, Pashinyan pledged change, but the humiliating military defeat by Azerbaijan in 2020 and the escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh tarnished his reputation.
The opposition constantly accuses Pashinyan of making major concessions on Karabakh.
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2023-09-20 19:16:41
