Tensions are escalating in Armenia as tens of thousands of protestors call for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. This public outrage was sparked by Armenia’s decision to surrender control of several border villages to Azerbaijan. An organization called the Movement for Tavush orchestrated these protests, led by Bagrat Archbishop Galstanyan, a leading figure in the Armenian Apostolic Church.
This public outcry stems from Azerbaijan’s regained full control over the Karabakh province, a region under ethnic Armenian forces’ control during the 1990s. Following a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan retook vast sections of this separatist area. The status quo seismically shifted again in September 2023 when the Azerbaijan forces compelled the Armenian authorities in Karabakh for negotiations, leading to Armenia’s capitulation of its border villages, according to AP News.
An agreement in April 2024 between both countries stipulated that a border section would pass through four Armenian villages in the Tavush province. This led to Armenia surrendering some territory to Azerbaijan. The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report detailed the forced displacement of over 100,000 people from the Nagorno-Karabakh region due to human rights violations by Azerbaijan.
In an attempt to quell the civil unrest, Pashinyan justified the land compromises as a means to achieve peace with Baku. Regardless, the weeks following saw continued protests, with protestors employing various tactics such as blocking significant roads to persuade the Prime Minister to reconsider.
In light of these events, Archbishop Galstanyan has declared himself a contender for the Prime Minister post, vowing to counter the “destruction of our homeland.” However, his candidacy has sparked controversy, with figures such as Hovik Aghazaryan, a high-ranking member from Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party, labeling it ‘illegal’ due to Galstanyan’s duel Canadian citizenship. This public pressure seems to have dissipated as official statements disclose that there are no more public calls for Pashinyan’s resignation underway.
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