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YEREVAN, KOMPAS.com – Armenia fell to the brink of crisis minutes after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed an agreement to end the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pain and frustration welled up from the Armenian people on the streets of the capital Yerevan after the shocking announcement on Tuesday (11/10/2020).
The signed peace agreement includes territorial concessions that benefit Azerbaijan and the presence of Russian peacekeepers for at least the next five years.
Also read: Putin calls on Azerbaijan to protect Armenian churches and Christian shrines in Nagorno-Karabakh
Demonstrators stormed parliament and government offices, followed by protests from opposition parties the following day. They demanded the resignation of Pashinyan and be replaced by a new leader.
The action, which began at the Opera House, was marred by insults against the Armenian prime minister. The crowd shouted: “Nikol, traitor!” He then went to the parliament building to ask for Pashinyan’s impeachment.
Reported Al jazeera On Thursday (12/11/2020), riot police were deployed to control the crowd and made several arrests.
Also read: Armenian Prime Minister assassinated by former Interior Ministry
Anna Mkrtchyan, 26, a lawyer from Yerevan, was arrested for protesting near the Opera House. They took him to the police station, but released him several hours later.
“I protest to protect my land, the land that now Pashinyan gave to Azerbaijan, where thousands of Armenians were killed.”
“We are fighting for our Homeland and the rights of the people living in Artsakh,” he continued, referring to the Armenian term for Nagorno-Karabakh.
The disputed territory is within Azerbaijan, but is inhabited by ethnic Armenians. His mandate has been debated since the 1980s. Many people in Yerevan believe that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to their country.
Also read: 2,317 Armenian soldiers killed in the war against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh
During the most recent fighting, which lasted for more than a month, no fewer than 1,000 people were killed, including dozens of civilians on both sides.
Many ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh fled the region, while Azerbaijanis from the missile-hit area also fled elsewhere.
“I work with abandoned children and I have to meet with them today to tell them that they will never be able to return home, because their prime minister has handed them over,” said an anonymous protester.
“If our country surrenders, that could be done 44 days ago and we will not lose thousands of lives.
Also read: Do not accept peace with Azerbaijan, ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh burn their houses
Many feel cheated because they only found out about the peace agreement when it was implemented. They said the firm was undemocratic without the participation of the people.
Despite the rampant street protests, Richard Giragosian, consulting director of the Center for Regional Studies in Yerevan, said the demonstration was not strong enough to oust Pashinyan.
“It has no competitor or reliable alternative … Yet the frustration is real, the disappointment is real.”
The Armenian government and army have also denied claims of a crushing defeat, such as the loss of the strategic city of Shushi, or Shusha in Azerbaijani terms.
Also read: France, the United States and Turkey together with Russia to control the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan
