April 29, 20:29 UTC+3 YEREVAN
YEREVAN, April 29. /TASS/. Relations between Armenia and Russia will grow rapidly in the future, opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan told the rally underway in the capital of Yerevan, a TASS correspondent reported from the scene.
"Today, I had a meeting with members of the State Duma [lower house of Russia’s parliament]. Both sides had a good impression. I assure you that relations will be actively growing between Armenia and Russia," Pashinyan said.
According to the opposition leader, "Armenia will deal intensively with all foreign partners."
"Thanks to your actions, Armenia’s authority has surged in the world arena," he told the supporters.
Since April 13, opposition’s widespread protests have gripped Armenia. On April 23, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan tendered his resigned in the wake of protests. On April 25 the ruling coalition broke up after the Dashnaktsutyun party had left it. The parliament is scheduled to elect prime minister on May 1. Three parliamentary factions – the Tsarukyan Alliance and Dashnaktsutyun and Yelk parties – vowed that they would vote in favor of Pashinyan. The ruling Republican Party of Armenia will not nominate its candidate.
Pashinyan (an MP of the Yelk faction) will become prime minister if 53 out of 105 (a simple majority) of MPs vote for him in the one-chamber parliament. The faction of the ruling Republic Party of Armenia has 58 seats in the parliament, while Yelk has nine, Dashnaktsutyun has seven, and the Tsarukyan bloc has 31 seats.