Global Information2018 Armenian Revolution information
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| 2018 Armenian Revolution (Velvet Revolution) | |||
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| Date | 31 March – 8 May 2018[1] (1 month, 1 week and 1 day) | ||
| Location | Armenia Armenian diaspora: Los Angeles, Glendale, California,[2] Moscow,[3] Milan Marseille,[4] Toronto, Montreal, Sochi, Brussels, Vancouver,[5] Athens, London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Chicago, São Paulo[6] | ||
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| Methods | Demonstrations, sit-ins, student protest, civil disobedience, online activism, boycotts of business, general strike | ||
| Resulted in | Protester victory
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The 2018 Armenian Revolution, most commonly known in Armenia as #MerzhirSerzhin (Armenian: #ՄերժիրՍերժին, meaning "#RejectSerzh"), was a series of anti-government protests in Armenia from April to May 2018 staged by various political and civil groups led by a member of the Armenian parliament — Nikol Pashinyan (head of the Civil Contract party). Protests and marches took place initially in response to Serzh Sargsyan's third consecutive term as the most powerful figure in the government of Armenia, later broadening against the ruling Republican Party, who were in power since 1999. Pashinyan declared it a Velvet Revolution (Armenian: Թավշյա հեղափոխություն).[31][32]
On April 22, Pashinyan was arrested and held in solitary confinement overnight, then released on April 23, the same day that Sargsyan resigned, saying "I was wrong, while Nikol Pashinyan was right".[33][34] The event is referred to by some as a peaceful revolution akin to revolutions in other post-Soviet states.[35][36][37] By the evening of April 25, the Republican Party's coalition partner, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, had withdrawn from the coalition.[11]
By April 28, all of the opposition parties in Armenia's parliament had announced they would support Pashinyan's candidacy.[38] A vote was scheduled in the National Assembly for May 1; for Pashinyan to be elected Prime Minister, which required 53 votes, he would have had to win the votes of at least six members of the Republican Party.[39] Pashinyan was the only candidate who was put forward for the vote.[40] However, the Republican Party unanimously voted against Pashinyan – 102 MPs were present, out of which 56 voted against his candidacy and 45 voted for it.[41][42] One week later, on May 8, the second vote took place. Pashinyan was elected Prime Minister with 59 votes.[14][43]
The revolution was seen as an opportunity for Armenia to realign its foreign policy in the European direction. The revolution contradicted Russian policy, as it opposed the notion of the irreplaceability of post-Soviet leaders and posed a threat to authoritarianism in the post-Soviet space. The revolution in Armenia was deemed "European" in nature as it corresponded to European values and principles, both societal and political.[44] The revolution signaled a significant shift in Armenia's domestic politics, with pro-Russian politicians being ousted from power and a reformist government taking their place. The change brought about a reevaluation of Armenia's relations with Russia. The reformist government sought to distance itself from Russia's aggressive tactics and realign Armenia with the Western values of democracy and human rights.[45]
- ^ "Armenia contemplates the unlikely: a nonviolent revolution on the cusp of victory". Los Angeles Times. 7 May 2018. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "Thousands of SoCal Armenians protest election results in their homeland". KABC-TV. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "В Москве у армянской церкви прошла акция в поддержку протестов в Ереване. Митингующих задержали". meduza (in Russian). 22 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ Ghukasyan, Seda (18 April 2018). "Yerevan: "Reject Serzh" Rally Kicks-Off in Republic Square; March To Baghramyan Avenue". Hetq. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
He claimed that protesters had removed a photo of Serzh Sargsyan hanging in the Armenian Consulate in Marseille and publicly burnt it.
- ^ International, Radio Canada (23 April 2018). "Canada 'applauds' courage of Armenian protesters". rcinet.ca. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ International (20 April 2018). "Yerevan's 'Velvet Revolution' Rally: Pashinyan Calls Sargsyan a "Political Corpse"". rcinet.ca. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Armenia: Negotiations Fail, Opposition Leaders Detained, Protesters Increase in Numbers". Armenian Weekly. 22 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "Armenian PM Sarkisian Resigns After Protest Leader Pashinian Released". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "Thousands Celebrate As Armenia's Longtime Ruler Sarkisian Steps Down". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 24 April 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "Пашинян потребовал "единогласной капитуляции" правящей партии Армении". РБК. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Pashinian Claims Armenian Ruling Party Defections, Warns PM". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Пашинян пообещал не прекращать протесты до назначения премьером Армении". РБК. 26 April 2018. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ "Armenia's Pashinian Optimistic As Yerevan Protests Continue". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ a b Roth, Andrew (8 May 2018). "'He's not a populist, he's popular': Nikol Pashinyan becomes Armenian PM". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan discharged from hospital, joins protesters". Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Himnadir.am". Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ Aslanian, Karlen (22 April 2018). "Huge Crowds Keep Up Pressure On Armenian PM". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ "Dilemma of quick defeat and long-term but inevitable victory | www.aravot-en.am". Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Unarmed soldiers join anti-government protests in Armenia". Reuters. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Pashinyan to Negotiate with Authorities 'on Behalf of People' (Live Thread)". epress.am. 21 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
Samvel Aleksanyan, a local oligarch close to Serzh Sargsyan, is personally fighting demonstrators in Malatia district. In a video published on Facebook, Aleksanyan is seen kicking a protester who is then forcibly put into a car.
- ^ Atanesian, Grigor (16 April 2018). "Thousands of protesters shut down Armenia's capital, dozens injured in clashes". eurasianet. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "Nikol Pashinyan Called on Oligarchs Not to Involve Their Bodyguards". lragir.am. 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ "PanARMENIAN.Net – Mobile". panarmenian.net. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "Armenia's revolution continues, as its opposition leader nears power". The Economist. 3 May 2018. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Weiss, Clara (25 April 2018). "Armenian prime minister resigns after mass protests". World Socialist Web Site. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ Ferris-Rotman, Amie (2 May 2018). "Armenia's pro-democracy leader tells his jubilant followers they can ease up". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Kucera, Joshua (22 April 2018). "Armenian opposition leader arrested, but protesters rally". eurasianet. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Armenian Ruling Party Won't Nominate PM Candidate; Pashinian Rallies Support". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 29 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ about, Melissa MacBride, bio (23 April 2018). "SoCal Armenians protest election results in their homeland". ABC7 Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Հոսպիտալացվել է 46 քաղաքացի, այդ թվում՝ 6 ոստիկան" (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ ""Velvet Revolution" Takes Armenia into the Unknown". Crisis Group. 26 April 2018. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ^ Բուլղադարյան, Նաիրա (21 April 2018). "«Մերժիր Սերժին» նախաձեռնության համակարգողներից Արմեն Գրիգորյանը ձերբակալվել է" – via www.azatutyun.am.
- ^ "Премьер-министр Армении Саргсян подал в отставку". РБК. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ Hairenik (23 April 2018). "Breaking: Serge Sarkisian Resigns as Prime Minister". The Armenian Weekly. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "Armenia's Peaceful Revolution Is a Lesson for Putin". Bloomberg.com. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Armenian Revolution: Russian influence to remain amid power shift". Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ Eckel, Mike (24 April 2018). "A 'Color Revolution' In Armenia? Mass Protests Echo Previous Post-Soviet Upheavals". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Кандидатуру Пашиняна решили поддержать три партии из парламента Армении". РБК. 28 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ "Armenian Opposition Leader Pashinyan Nominated As PM Candidate". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ Armenian Protest Leader Pashinian Only Candidate For Premier Archived 29 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine, rferl.org; accessed 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Парламент проголосовал против Пашиняна на выборах премьера Армении". РБК. May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ "PanARMENIAN.Net – Mobile". panarmenian.net. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Revolution sweeps Armenian opposition leader into power". Reuters. 8 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018 – via www.reuters.com.
- ^ "Nikol Pashinyan's Russian threats and European opportunities". 1in.am. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Armenia's EU Candidacy: A Departure from Moscow's Sphere of Influence". ankasam.org. Retrieved 24 March 2024.