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Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   29 March 2024

LIVE UPDATES: Pro-Pashinyan demonstrators resume civil disobedience campaign

LIVE UPDATES: Pro-Pashinyan demonstrators resume civil disobedience campaign

YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Supporters of opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan, the lawmaker who didn’t get elected Prime Minister yesterday, began civil disobedience campaigns across Yerevan and in other parts of Armenia from early morning of May 2.

 

16:16 – Pashinyan addresses supporters via video message – urges to open streets and 17:00 and gather in Republic Square for an evening rally due at 19:00.

15:03 – Human Rights Defender expresses concern over street blocking tactic of demonstrators.

14:41 – Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport operates normally, spokesperson confirms to ARMENPRESS.

14:40 – State Revenue Committee expresses concern that cargo vehicles, especially loaded with food, are facing blocked streets upon entering the country due to the political demonstrations.  The customs service called on demonstrators to take into consideration the concerning facts and to refrain from obstructing the entry and exit of cargo vehicles at the border for ensuring food safety.

14:39 – Police urge demonstrators to remove cargo vehicles from Yerevan’s Republic Square and other crowded areas. Police also called on protesters, especially minors, to refrain from dangerous actions – such as climbing atop of the trucks.

14:38 – The ministry of emergency situations released a statement urging to maintain caution and avoid creating emergency situations in crowded locations.

14:14 – Speaker of Parliament Ara Babloyan urges demonstrators to display restraint and to stop insulting and threatening lawmakers on social media or in public locations.

14:01 – Justice ministry calls on demonstrators to cease obstructing the entrance of the ministry headquarters.

13:54 – Protesters block railways. Yerevan-Gyumri-Yerevan, Yerevan-Yeraskh – Yerevan trains cease operating from early morning.

13:40 – A group of culture figures, lecturers and students of the Yerevan Film and Theater Institute gather outside the ministry of culture in Yerevan. Demonstrators call on all representatives of the culture sector to join them, including acting minister of Armen Amiryan.

12:04 - Rescuers transport pregnant woman to hospital from heavy traffic jam

11:50 – Several employees of Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport declare strike. Aviation department says flights resume according to schedule.

11:24 – Demonstrations kicked off early morning in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city.

10:47 – Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan joins his crowd of supporters in Yerevan’s Arshakunyats Avenue. “We are ready for all scenarios, we have our action plan for every case,” Pashinyan said.

10:37 – Arayik Harutyunyan, member of Yerevan City Council from the opposition Yelk faction, has called on their supporters to maintain two important rules during civil disobediences and street blocking tactics – to allow the unobstructed passage for ambulances and defense ministry vehicles and convoys.

10:05 – Demonstrator complies with police demands and removes vehicle from entrance of justice ministry. Protesters begin a sit-in at the entrance.

09:59 – Opposition MP Ararat Mirzoyan from the Yelk faction called on their supporters on Facebook not to obstruct the movements of emergency services.

09:57 – Deputy Police Chief of Yerevan Valery Osipyan arrives at the ministry headquarters near Republic Square. Osipyan demands demonstrators to open the entrances, mentioning they are restricting the free movement of others.

09:51 – Protesters use vehicles to block the entrances to the ministry of culture, ministry of Diaspora and ministry of education and science. These ministries are housed in the same building.

09:41 – Two vehicles block main entrance of Justice Ministry headquarters in Yerevan.

09:31 – Police call on demonstrators to unblock Mashtots Ave. – Amiryan Str. intersection and restore traffic.

09:11 – Demonstrators shut down highway linking the city with the airport. Protesters include school students on strike.  Tourists are seen carrying their luggage and walking from/to the airport as traffic is paralyzed.

 

Demonstrators including school students on strike have blocked the road leading to Zvartnots airport.

Many tourists are seen exiting vehicles and going to the airport on foot, carrying their luggage.

A minor scuffle took place between drivers and demonstrators at the intersection of the road. A driver and his passengers were angrily demanding to open the road. They managed to resume traveling after a brief altercation.

Heavy police presence is seen at the scene.

The Ashtarak-Yerevan highway is also closed.

Demonstrations are also underway in other parts of the Armenian capital, namely in Abovyan Street, the Davitashen Bridge and several streets in the Nor Nork district.

After nearly 9 hours of debates on electing a Prime Minister on May 1, with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan being the sole candidate, the Armenian parliament failed to make the election as 56 lawmakers voted against and 45 lawmakers voted in favor.

The only nominated candidate for Prime Minister was opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, who spearheaded the latest protest campaigns which prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan on April 23.

Pashinyan was nominated by the opposition Yelk faction.

Two other factions – Tsarukyan and the ARF – have endorsed the opposition MPs candidacy.

Pashinyan needed at least 53 votes to be elected Prime Minister.

There are 4 factions in the Armenian parliament. The Republican Party (HHK) faction, the ruling party of Armenia, has 58 seats in the 105-seat unicameral parliament of Armenia – known as the National Assembly.  The ARF faction – (Armenian Revolutionary Federation aka Dashnaktsutyun), has 7 seats. The Tsarukyan alliance has 31 seats, and the Yelk faction has 9 seats. 

According to the Constitution, in case of failure to elect a Prime Minister in the parliament, a second round of election is held seven days later. In the second round, candidates nominated by at least one third of the total number of MPs are entitled to participate in the election. If a Prime Minister isn’t elected in the second round also, the parliament is dissolved by virtue of law.

English –translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan

 








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