Armenian PM Pashinyan Does Not Intend Resigning Amid Protests

Protesters in the Armenian capital demand prime minister’s resignation after signing agreement on a complete cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nikol Pashinyan himself excludes his departure. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he was not going to resign amid protests in the republic that erupted after the complete cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh announcement. "There is only one issue on my agenda - ensuring stability in the country. There is no other issue on my agenda," the head of the Armenian government stressed at a press conference on Monday, November 16. Ombudsman sees in Pashinyan's words a call for civil war in Armenia A few hours earlier, Pashinyan had invited the military personnel involved in the conflict to a meeting in the capital. "I have watched dozens of videos with military personnel from the front line. I was amazed at the thoughtfulness of the guys. You are right, guys. I am waiting for you in Yerevan to finally solve the problems of those who whine under the walls. I am proud of you," he wrote on his Facebook page. The Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan condemned the Prime Minister's statements, calling them "a de facto call for a civil war." Pashinyan's statement "is especially dangerous against the background of videos posted by people in military uniform and containing calls for violence and death threats," Tatoyan said. The head of government himself noted that he does not seek for a civil war. "The servicemen are returning to Yerevan (from the disputed region. - Ed.) without weapons. So all talk about a civil war is manipulative," Pashinyan said at the press conference. Meanwhile, the head of Deputy Prime Minister office, Serge Varag Siseryan announced his intention to resign and leave the Civil Contract party after Pashinyan's message. Deputy of the faction of the ruling bloc "My Step" Gayane Abrahamyan is also going to resign. "From now on, I consider my powers meaningless," the parliamentarian wrote on Facebook, asking "forgiveness for many mistakes." Protests in Yerevan followed the Nagorno-Karabakh agreement In early November, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as well as the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin signed a statement on a complete ceasefire and all hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh from November 10. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated in the summer of 2020, and at the end of September entered the phase of large-scale hostilities. The agreement assumed that the units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia stop at their positions. Russian peacekeepers will be deployed along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia, the transport communication in the region will be controlled by the border service of the FSB of Russia. Mass protests began in Yerevan with calls for Prime Minister’s resignation after the leaders of the three countries published the joint statement. Protesters believe Pashinyan should not have made a decision that is significant for the country without discussing it with the general public.