150 citizens detained as civil disobedience campaigns continue in Yerevan

The police have detained 151 Armenian citizens as people across Yerevan stage campaigns of civil disobedience across the Armenian capital to protest Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s surrender of territories to Azerbaijan and demand his resignation.

Monday marks the fifth day of demonstrations announced by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and backed by virtually all Armenian opposition groups.

Citizens have been blocking streets in Yerevan, demanding Pashinyan’s resignation.

At a massive rally on May 10, Galstanyan reiterated those demands as he addressed the protesters in the city’s central Republic Square. He charged that Pashinyan lost legitimacy after deciding to hand over several disputed border areas to Azerbaijan. He pointed out that the premier had pledged not to make such concessions in the run-up to the last general elections held in 2021.

Accordingly, the cleric vowed to continue campaigning for Pashinyan’s removal from power. At the same time, he urged supporters to demonstrate “patience” and brace themselves for sustained street protests that could last longer than many of them expected.