Category: 2021

Armenian analyst Tigran Abrahamyan, the head of Henaket Analytical Center, sees no threat of war with Azerbaijan over a short or medium period of time.

“Considering that the risk of renewed hostilities is being discussed from different angles, I would like to make a few brief observations.

“I must say right away that I exclude the likelihood of war in the near future. In the medium term, the risks will definitely increase, but I do not consider the likelihood of renewed war at that stage high.

“In the long run, there are many factors that can significantly increase the likelihood of war,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Abrahamyan said the main reason for not predicting a war in the short and medium terms is the presence of the Russian military in Artsakh and its expansion on Armenia’s border.

“In 2008, we saw in Abkhazia and South Ossetia what happens when attempts are made to use force in conditions of the deployment of Russian peacekeepers.

“The situation may change if there are sharp turns inside Russia and in our region.

“What I said in no way excludes border provocations and tensions, moreover, their intensification is a subject of additional analysis,” the analyst said. 

Many opposition activists rallied outside the Armenian president’s residence on Saturday to obstruct a meeting of Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The protesters were chanting “Nikol the traitor!”, “Armenia without a Turk”, “Leave, land giver!”, etc.

Large police forces were deployed in the area. Addressing them, one of the protesters said: “Dear police officers, you just have to hold on a little bit, we will get rid of him soon. We know that you stand with us. Hold on!”

Later, it became clear that Pashinyan left the presidential residence bypassing Demirchyan Street, where participates of the rally organized by the Homeland Salvation Movement were waiting for him.

ARF member Gerasim Vardanyan and RPA Youth Organization head Hayk Mamijanyan said that they have succeeded in fulfilling their task, in particular, they prevented the “traitor” from moving around in Yerevan freely.

They said that today’s protest is over, but they will continue the struggle for Pashinyan’s removal from office.

Earlier on Saturday, the opposition held a rally outside the Foreign Ministry building to impede the prime minister’s planned visit. 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will not leave office unless every Armenian in turn demands his resignation, Artsvik Minasyan, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Supreme Council of Armenia, told reporters during an opposition rally outside the Foreign Ministry building on Saturday.

According to him, if Pashinyan remains in office, there will be no future for the people and families will find themselves in a very difficult situation.

Noting that aggression and hatred have reached their peak in Armenia, Minasyan stated that the number one instigator of it has been and remains the authorities.

He also addressed the concerns of some Diaspora Armenians that the opposition is simply striving for power.

“It is not that the leaders of the Homeland Salvation Movement are seeking to come to power and hold an office. Our number one task today is to remove the person who led the country to a war through conspiracy, caused a defeat and huge losses and brought the country to the brink of disaster,” Minasyan stated, noting that it is for the people to decide who will be in power.

The politician believes Pashinyan has no actual intention to hold snap elections, adding even if they are held, he will use all the levers.

Minasyan attached importance to the role of the National Assembly in the current situation, stressing the need to pressure pro-government lawmakers to oust Pashinyan.

Stressing that the people are faced with an existential issue today, Artsvik Minasyan said public servants should also voice their protest to their superiors.

Leader of the opposition Bright Armenia faction took to Facebook on Saturday to denounce the Armenian government’s move to approve a bill that would cut the funding for the Ombudsman’s Office.

“Stay away from the ombudsman! Stop disgracing Armenia!” the MP wrote.

At today’s news conference, Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan called the bill “discriminatory” and “unconstitutional”, unveiling his plans to apply to the Constitutional Court if the draft law is passed by the parliament. 

At least one sniper has been deployed in the Armenian Foreign Ministry building as the opposition announced a rally outside the ministry on Saturday.

Photos show the sniper perched atop the building of the ministry. Large police forces have also been deployed in the area.

Earlier on Saturday, the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement urged people to gather outside the building “to greet” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is expected to pay a visit to the ministry.

“Nikol Pashinyan has decided to visit the Foreign Ministry at the second block of the government complex at 12:30am. On the Diplomat’s Day marked on March 2, he broke the established tradition and didn’t attended the ministry and instead decided to visit there on March 13. We will greet him outside the ministry building to once again voice our demand: Armenia without Nikol!” the statement released by the movement said.

Earlier in February, snipers were also positioned inside and on the rooftop of the parliament building during Pashinyan’s visit.