Wednesday,
Parliament Majority Suggests Opposition Clarify Its Position Before Challenging
Truce Deal
Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (C) talks to deputies from the
majority My Step faction during a parliament session, Yerevan, September 16,
2020.
The ruling parliamentary My Step faction has issued a statement in which it
calls on the opposition parties to clarify their position on several issues
before discussing the legality of the statement on ending the war in
Nagorno-Karabakh signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan.
On November 11, the two opposition factions in Armenia’s National Assembly –
Bright Armenia and Prosperous Armenia – initiated a special session of
parliament to discuss the document that has largely been branded by the
opposition as an act of surrender.
It followed a day of street protests staged by 17 opposition parties, including
Prosperous Armenia, during which demonstrators also called for the resignation
of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
In its statement My Step suggested that before challenging the deal the
opposition parties should “very clearly declare to all Armenians and the world
that they support the abolition of Russian mediation; support the withdrawal of
Russian peacekeepers from the line of contact; stand for the continuation of the
war.”
“After that, the opposition forces should also present a proposed roadmap for
victory in the renewed war,” the ruling faction said, adding that accepting the
announced conditions in the current situation was the only way to avoid the
total loss of Nagorno-Karabakh and thousands of human lives.
At the same time, My Step said it believes that the public should receive
answers to all questions that concern it. The faction also said that it is not
going “to take part in any sessions aimed at destabilizing the situation” in
Armenia.
“Honoring the glorious memory of the military servicemen and volunteers who
participated in the fighting and died in the heroic battle of Artsakh [the
Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh], sharing, with deep sorrow, the pain of
families, friends and relatives of the victims, taking into account the internal
political events in Armenia and Artsakh that followed the military actions and
the truce, the My Step faction declares: the current analysis of the military
operations provides grounds to ascertain that the Armenian people with its joint
efforts fought, in fact, not only against Azerbaijan, but also against one of
the largest armed forces in the world, an army with ultra-modern weapons and an
unlimited human reserve, mercenary terrorists and special forces recruited from
different countries. During the 45 days of the war, outstanding heroism was
shown along the entire front line, thanks to which it was possible to prevent
the unleashed genocidal crime of the enemy against Armenians,” My Step’s
statement reads.
The ruling faction emphasized that “the pan-Armenian potential was involved in
the logistical support of the army during the hostilities.” “The hostilities
were taking place in parallel with major geopolitical events conditioned by
security challenges that led to the failure of all international efforts to
establish a ceasefire regime, including numerous attempts by the three
co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group,” My Step said.
The two parliamentary opposition factions had collected enough signatures to
convene a special session of parliament, however, as leader of the Bright
Armenia faction Edmon Marukian said, a meeting of the National Assembly Council
was to take place before convening the session, which, however, did not take
place. Of My Step lawmakers only Deputy Speaker Lena Nazarian had come to
parliament.
Armenian Opposition Seeks Special Session Of Parliament Amid Political Tensions
ARMENIA -- A priest stands next to police guarding the National Assembly during
a protest against an agreement to halt fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, in
Yerevan,
Two opposition factions in the Armenian parliament have initiated a formal
process to convene a special session to discuss the current situation created
after Yerevan signed an agreement with Azerbaijan to end a six-week war over
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Bright Armenia faction said that they also want to discuss the legality of
the deal that requires Armenia to make heavy concessions.
The other faction, Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), joined Bright Armenia's
initiative.
BHK members along with representatives of nearly two dozen other opposition
parties have led street protests demanding that Pashinian step down as soon as
possible over the deal he signed with Azerbaijan to end a six-week war in
Nagorno-Karabakh that the opposition largely views as an act of surrender.
Thousands of protesters staged a rally in Liberty Square in Yerevan earlier on
Wednesday despite a ban imposed on gatherings while martial law introduced at
the start of the war in late September is in place.
A group of demonstrators, including some opposition politicians, were briefly
detained by police.
Demonstrators then went to the government office in the city’s main Republic
Square before marching towards the National Assembly building. Police had
cordoned off the areas before the arrival of demonstrators.
Leaders of the protest called on members of the parliamentary majority faction,
My Step, to come to parliament so that a special session could be convened. They
said that the removal of the prime minister should be on the agenda of this
session.
Ishkhan Saghatelian, a leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutiun), said that they were giving Pashinian until midnight to resign
and set the same deadline to the parliament majority to convene a special
session. Otherwise, he said, the opposition will present its further steps “to
solve the matter until the end of the day tomorrow.”
Earlier on Wednesday the loose alliance of 17 opposition parties announced the
establishment of a “national salvation committee.”
Meanwhile, leaders of several of the parties, including Hayrenik’s Artur
Vanetsian and the BHK’s Gagik Tsarukian, were summoned to the National Security
Service during the day.
Armenia’s police on Tuesday warned that holding rallies continues to be banned
in the country, which has been under martial law since the latest fighting broke
out in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 27.
Speaking on state television, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian did not rule
out that the current government could resign, but warned against any “coup”
attempt.
“I want to assure all of the political forces that are trying to catch fish in
murky waters in conditions of martial law that there will be no tolerance in
this matter,” the deputy prime minister said.
He said that the time for looking for those responsible in a domestic political
process will still come.
Armenia’s Special Investigation Service said late on Wednesday that a criminal
case has been opened in connection with the rally held in violation of the law.
Armenian Police Clash With Protesters Angry About Truce Deal
People clash with police during a protest against an agreement to halt fighting
over Nagorno-Karabakh, Liberty Square in Yerevan, Armenia,
Armenian riot police clashed with demonstrators who had gathered in the capital
amid anger over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s decision to sign an agreement
with Azerbaijan to end more than six weeks of fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Thousands of protesters filled Yerevan’s Liberty Square calling for Pashinian’s
resignation despite a ban imposed on street rallies while martial law is in
place.
The crowd chanted “Nikol is a traitor” amid attempts by police to prevent the
gathering.
Ahead of the demonstration, the government warned the opposition against
attempting a “coup” as tensions grew in the Caucasus nation after Pashinian
signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting between Azerbaijan and
ethnic Armenians in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.
The announcement of the cease-fire deal early on November 10 sparked angry
protests in the Armenian capital with demonstrators storming government
buildings and parliament.
Representatives of 17 opposition parties called for Pashinian to step down,
blaming him for what they described as heavy concessions Armenians had to accept
as part of the deal.
Addressing the Yerevan rally, Ishkhan Saghatelian, a leader of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun), charged that “the war was brought to
us” by Pashinian and “his inconsistent policies.”
“Throughout the war he showed inaction and treachery,” Saghatelian added.
Other politicians at the rally, including Artur Vanetsian, former director of
the National Security Service who currently leads the opposition Hayrenik
(Homeland) party, also called for Pashinian’s resignation in their speeches.
The rally then continued near the government building where police had formed
cordoned off by police. The leaders of the protest then also called for a
special session of parliament to be convened and marched towards the National
Assembly building where police had also put up cordons.
The opposition parties announced the establishment of a “homeland salvation
committee” amid reports that some of their leaders, including Vanetsian,
ex-President Serzh Sarkisian, who leads the former ruling Republican Party of
Armenia, and leader of the largest parliamentary opposition party, Prosperous
Armenia, Gagik Tsarukian had been summoned to the National Security Service.
Saghatelian said they were giving Pashinian until midnight to resign and also
were giving the parliament majority until midnight to convene a special session
to consider the removal of Pashinian from power. Otherwise, he said, they will
present further steps by which they will "solve" the matter tomorrow.
Armenia’s police on Tuesday warned that holding rallies continues to be banned
in the country, which has been under martial law since the latest fighting broke
out in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 27.
Speaking on state television, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian did not rule
out that the current government could resign, but warned against any “coup”
attempt.
“I want to assure all of the political forces that are trying to catch fish in
murky waters in conditions of martial law that there will be no tolerance in
this matter,” the deputy prime minister said.
He said that the time for looking for those responsible in a domestic political
process will still come.
Armenian Opposition Stages Rally, Demands Pashinian’s Resignation
Protesters wave an Armenian national flag during a protest against an agreement
to halt fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, in Yerevan, Armenia,
Nearly two dozen Armenian opposition parties staged a rally in Yerevan on
Wednesday afternoon demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
The demand has been made over a Russian-brokered agreement with Azerbaijan to
stop a six-week war in Nagorno-Karabakh largely viewed by Pashinian critics as
an act of surrender.
Representatives of 17 opposition parties, including tycoon Gagik Tsarukian’s
parliamentary Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), reiterated their call for the
prime minister to step down, blaming him for what they described as heavy
concessions Armenians had to accept as part of the deal.
Speakers at the rally attended by thousands in Liberty Square were addressing
the crowd that was chanting “Nikol is a traitor” amid attempts by the police to
stop the gathering.
Scuffles broke about between demonstrators and the police that had warned the
organizers of the rally that it was illegal under the current martial law that
was introduced at the start of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh in late September.
Under the provision of martial law political gatherings are banned in the
country.
Ishkhan Saghatelian, a leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun), described Pashinian as the one responsible for the war.
“The war was brought to us by Nikol [Pashinian]. It was due to his inconsistent
policies. He had spoiled our relations with our strategic allies, with the
Russian Federation, with Tehran, isolated us from the entire world because of
his lies and his being distrusted. And throughout the war he showed inaction and
treachery,” Saghatelian said.
“Beginning from this moment there is no government in the Republic of Armenia.
The government must resign so that we can save Armenia and Artsakh (the Armenian
name for Nagorno-Karabakh),” he added.
Saghatelian called on the parliament majority to convene a special session of
parliament to remove Pashinian from power.
Other politicians at the rally, including Artur Vanetsian, former director of
the National Security Service who currently leads the opposition Hayrenik
(Homeland) party, also called for Pashinian’s resignation in their speeches.
The opposition parties announced the establishment of a “national salvation
committee” amid reports that the National Security Service has been summoning
their leaders, including Vanetsian and ex-President Serzh Sarkisian, who leads
the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia.
Political tensions in Armenia grew early on November 10 when Pashinian announced
a deal with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev under which Armenian forces would
withdraw from much of the territory they controlled before the start of the war,
with Russian peacekeepers deployed in the remaining part where ethnic Armenians
live. He said it was the best possible option in conditions of a series of
defeats suffered by the military in the battlefield.
The news about the deal triggered street disturbances in Yerevan, with angry
mobs breaking into the government and parliament buildings during early hours of
the morning on Tuesday.
Mobs ransacked offices and smashed windows in an outburst of anger. Parliament
Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan was injured in a mob attack and was hospitalized,
drawing a sharp rebuke from the government.
In an interview with Public Television last night Deputy Prime Minister Tigran
Avinian warned Armenia’s opposition against attempting a coup. At the same time,
he did not exclude that the current government could resign.
Armenian PM Defends Karabakh Deal Amid Calls For His Resignation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has defended the Russia-brokered truce
agreement signed with Azerbaijan that ended a six-week war over
Nagorno-Karabakh, claiming that it helps keep territories rather than cede them.
The news about the deal early on November 10 triggered street disturbances in
Yerevan, with angry mobs breaking into the government and parliament buildings.
The unrest unfolded amid calls of a number of opposition parties for the
resignation of Pashinian whom they accuse of signing an “act of surrender” and
criticize for keeping the public in the dark on the planned agreement.
“The document was signed at the moment when Shushi (Shusha) had already fallen
and Stepanakert was under direct threat, and it was quite problematic to find
resources,” Pashinian explained in a live broadcast on Facebook on Wednesday.
“The biggest guilt attributed to me is signing the document that says that I
agree to hand over three districts – Aghdam, Lachin and Kelbajar – to
Azerbaijan. It may sound odd, but that was not about withdrawing, but about
keeping [territories], because in that period when Shushi had fallen, the
General Staff of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces was reporting to me that
resources were in a rather problematic state. To put it mildly, the political
leadership of Artsakh [the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh] also shared that
opinion,” the Armenian prime minister said. “What were the prospects if that
document had not been signed at that moment? In reality, that document gave us
what, according to military and non-military assessments, we would not be able
to keep in that situation.”
Pashinian stressed that if military operations continued, Azerbaijan would very
likely capture Martuni, Stepanakert and Askeran, after which Armenian defensive
areas with thousands of soldiers would be encircled and the defense would
complete collapse.
“At that moment we had a situation when Stepanakert was under direct threat. The
assessment of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the president of Artsakh
was that Stepanakert was very weakly defended or was symbolically defended. And
if Stepanakert fell, that would leave thousands of our soldiers encircled and as
a result we would lose everything that is fixed in this document. This is the
whole truth,” Pashinian said.
The prime minister also brushed aside conspiracy theories about the battle of
Shushi earlier this month that arose after conflicting accounts of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian sides about who controls the strategic Nagorno-Karabakh
town.
“After the fall of Shushi there were two attempts to recapture it. One attempt
failed completely, the other detachment managed to enter Shushi. And the
conflicting reports in the media about who controls the town were due to that,”
Pashinian explained.
Armenian Deputy PM Warns Opposition Against Coup Attempt
• Lilit Harutiunian
Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinian (archive photo)
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian has warned Armenia’s opposition against
attempting a coup hours before a group of political parties critical of the
government plans to hold a rally in Yerevan to demand Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian’s resignation.
In an interview with Public Television last night Avinian did not rule out that
the current government will resign, but stressed that they will not allow a coup.
Political tensions grew in Armenia on November 10 after Pashinian signed a
Russian-brokered truce with Azerbaijan putting an end to more than six weeks of
fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The deal envisaging Armenian concessions in the region was perceived by many as
an act of surrender, which triggered a night of street disturbances in the
Armenian capital of Yerevan during which the country’s parliament speaker was
attacked and injured by a mob.
Thousands of angry protesters stormed government buildings and parliament, with
some demanding that Yerevan’s signature be recalled from the document announced
early on Tuesday by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia.
Mobs ransacked offices and smashed windows in an outburst of anger. They also
broke into the prime minister’s residence but found no one inside. Pashinian
said later that his residence was looted by the intruders.
The protests unfolded against the backdrop of a demand by 17 opposition parties
for Pashinian to step down.
The loose alliance that also includes the main parliamentary opposition
Prosperous Armenia Party plans to reiterate the demand at a rally on Wednesday.
Armenia’s police issued a warning yesterday that in conditions of the continuing
martial law, organizing, holding and participating in rallies is banned in the
country.
Avinian also warned that there will be no tolerance towards those political
forces that “try to catch fish in murky waters in conditions of martial law.”
“I would like to remind you that in the 1990s, when Azerbaijan was plunged into
internal political turmoil, the Armenian army used that opportunity quite
effectively. I want to assure all the political forces that are trying to catch
fish in murky waters in conditions of martial law that there will be no
tolerance in this matter. The Republic of Armenia, our statehood are above all,
above everyone’s ambitions,” the deputy prime minister said.
He said that the time for looking for those responsible in a domestic political
process will still come. “There will definitely be a turn for our internal
political discourse about who is to blame and who is responsible. If necessary,
this government will go, a new government will be elected, but our team and I
personally cannot allow any coup attempts,” Avinian said.
Armenian President Opens Consultations With Parties Amid Political Tensions
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian met with senior ARF members Armen Rustamian
and Artsvik Minasian, November 10, 2020
The consultations began one day before major opposition parties plan an
anti-government rally in Yerevan.
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has been holding consultations with
representatives of different political parties since yesterday in a bid to
defuse current political tensions caused by Armenia’s decision to sign a
Russia-brokered agreement with Azerbaijan to end six weeks of fighting over
Nagorno-Karabakh at the cost of concessions.
The news of the agreement signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian early on
November 10 triggered unrest in Yerevan as thousands of angry protesters stormed
government buildings and parliament.
Mobs ransacked offices and smashed windows in an outburst of anger. Parliament
Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan was injured in a mob attack and hospitalized, drawing a
sharp rebuke from the government.
The Armenian president, who unlike the prime minister has limited powers under
Armenia’s constitution, said later on Tuesday that he had learned about the
agreement on ending the Nagorno-Karabakh war and its conditions from the media.
He said he would immediately open consultations with political parties regarding
the issue.
Later that day, as reported by his office, President Sarkissian already started
such consultations by receiving representatives of several political parties.
In particular, Sarkissian met with senior members of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun) Armen Rustamian and Artsvik Minasian. The ARF
has opposed concessions and along with 16 other political parties has demanded
Pashinian’s resignation.
“Considering that it is the current government that is mainly responsible for
the situation, the representatives of the ARF expressed their concern in
connection with the existing risks, presented their vision of overcoming the
current situation,” the office of the president said.
“It was emphasized that there should be a nationwide consensus around the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is an issue of national
importance,” it added.
President Sarkissian emphasized the importance of “maintaining the country’s
stability, public solidarity and unity.”
In another meeting Hayrenik (Homeland) party leader Artur Vanetsian presented
his assessments and observations to the president, noting that the party has its
own vision of the way out of the current situation, the report said.
Sarkissian, according to his office, also received members of the executive body
of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Vahram Baghdasarian and
Eduard Sharmazanov, and the head of the HHK youth organization Hayk Mamijanian.
According to the report, the HHK representatives “presented their views on the
text of the statement [signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia],
further actions and existing risks, and also expressed concern about the
situation in the country, making some proposals.”
On November 10, President Sarkissian also met with leader of the Heritage party
Narine Dilbarian and senior representative Andranik Grigorian, who “stressed the
importance of unity and solidarity, as well as maintaining internal political
stability.”
The consultations started one day before an alliance of 17 parties, including
the ARF, the HHK, Hayrenik, the largest parliamentary party, Prosperous Armenia,
and others plan to hold a rally in Yerevan.
At an announced rally on November 11 the political parties are expected to
repeat their demand for Prime Minister Pashinian to resign.
Armenia’s current martial law declared over the war in Nagorno-Karabakh bans
public rallies and outlaws demands for the resignation of government officials.
The Armenian police warned yesterday that the gathering planned by the
opposition parties in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Wednesday will be a violation
of the law.
“We urge all to refrain from organizing, holding and participating in gatherings
and public events,” the police said in a statement.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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