Renewed Protests In Armenia As Nikol “The Basement” Pashinyan Shrugs Off Deadline To Resign

Click to see full-size image

On December 8^th, protests continue in Armenia, after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan disregarded an ultimatum to resign.

Roads were blocked in Yerevan.

On December 5^th, opposition parties warned Pashinyan there would be civil disobedience across the country if he doesn’t resign within the deadline. The prime minister has refused to step down, defending the peace agreement as a painful but necessary move that prevented Azerbaijan from overrunning the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Chanting “Nikol, traitor,” and “Armenia without Nikol,” thousands took to the streets of Yerevan, answering an opposition call to protest after Pashinyan ignored a deadline of midday December 8^th set by the opposition for him to quit.

Download video

Pashinyan’s opponents want him out over what they say was his disastrous handling of the six-week conflict that handed Azerbaijan territorial gains.

The Prime Minister claims he accepts responsibility for the conflict’s outcome but said he is now responsible for ensuring national security and stabilizing the country by remaining in power and attempting to lead through Facebook videos.

Ishkhan Saghatelyan, an opposition politician for the Armenian Revolutionary Federation party, announced the start of coordinated civil disobedience in a televised address on Tuesday after the deadline passed.

“Nikol, you will go anyway. Leave peacefully,” he said.

“From now until 17:00 Armenia’s citizens are justified in using their right to peaceful actions of disobedience to express their demand and to make it heard,” he said.

Catholicos Karekin II, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church said he had met Pashinyan and also urged him to resign.

Military goods at relatively low prices have appeared on Armenian websites.

Some public figures who were involved in the delivery of aid to the military believe that the goods for sale were purchased during the war with donations.

Below are screenshots of the deals.

Click to see full-size image

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on supporting the demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In his letter, Armen Sarkissian once again thanked the Russian President for the efforts that led to the cessation of bloodshed in Nagorno Karabakh and the establishment of a ceasefire, thanks to which it was possible to avoid new casualties and tragedies.

At the same time, the President of Armenia noted that, unfortunately, there is still a potential danger of new disputes between the parties over the demarcation issue.

Taking into account the exceptional importance and urgency of the issue, President Sarkissian asked the Russian President to support the demarcation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan to exclude further tensions and negative developments.

On December 8th, a report from the Turkish TV channel TGRT News: take a close look at the map and flag. The internationally recognized borders of Armenia are presented to the public as part of the territory of Azerbaijan with a quote: “Armenia has no money. Let’s return Zangezur. “

Click to see full-size image

Azerbaijan also announced that it is closing its borders from December 14^th, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Armenian media commented on it saying that not even a pandemic could stop Baku from waging a war.

The Russian peacekeepers are continuing to provide medical aid, and demine the regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. They also ensure the safe return of refugees, according to the Ministry of Defense, it is all going without issue.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

Support SouthFront

SouthFront