The Armenian Parliament did not react to the protests of pro-Western “activists” that have been taking place in Yerevan since yesterday, and elected former President Serzh Sargsyan as Prime Minister of the country.
The Constitution of the country was changed specifically for this vote, and now Sargsyan in his new position will have almost the same powers as in his previous one. 77 deputies of the National Assembly of Armenia voted for his candidacy, 17 voted against.
Meanwhile, protesters staged a sit-in in front of the parliament building. Protests took place in other cities of Armenia. Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan said he was starting a “velvet, popular and peaceful revolution.”
At the same time, at the final rally today, he called on supporters to go home. However, Pashinyan said that tomorrow a “velvet revolution” committee will be created, which will organize blockades of government departments, metro and ground transport, “and very soon these departments, including the police, will carry out the orders of the revolutionary committees.”
In addition, Pashinyan instructed supporters to set up checkpoints throughout Armenia.
“There are no streets or squares in Yerevan that are not ours. With this we have already won. Tomorrow at 10:00 I will be waiting for you at France Square, from where we will begin our actions and end at Republic Square,” Pashinyan said.