Protest movement in Armenia nearing a tipping point, opposition leader says

Panorama
Armenia – June 2 2022

The protest movement launched by the Armenian opposition, dubbed Resistance Movement, is nearing a tipping point, one of its leaders and deputy parliament speaker Ishkhan Saghatelyan said on Thursday.

The two opposition blocs represented in the Armenian parliament have called a special session on Friday to debate a draft resolution concerning Artsakh, a peace deal with Azerbaijan and relations with Turkey. However, the ruling Civil Contract party has unveiled plans to boycott the session.

“A special parliament session is scheduled at 4pm tomorrow. We will go to the parliament. Until then, everyone has the opportunity to express their position," Saghatelyan said in a statement.

“That chance still exists for most of them. They can still avoid moral responsibility for this shameful process of surrendering the country to the enemy and destroying the statehood. They can still distance themselves from Nikol [Pashinyan],” he added.

Saghatelyan urged people to gather in Yerevan’s France Square to support the opposition MPs. “Depending on the processes in parliament, we will outline our further steps,” the opposition leader said.

"Tomorrow we will all know the names of the figures who have made their choice in the Artsakh issue and Armenian-Turkish relations.

“We are on the right path. The struggle must be brought to a victorious end,” he added.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS