SERZH SARKISIAN RESIGNS AS PRIME MINISTER

Serzh Sarkisian resigns as prime minister

YEREVAN—Armenia’s Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian resigned on Monday after ten days of unprecedented street protests against his continued rule.

“[Opposition leader] Nikol Pashinian was right,” he said in a written address to the nation. “I was mistaken. There are several solutions to the existing situation but I will not opt for any of them. They are not to my liking.”

“I am resigning from the post of prime minister, leader of the country,” he declared.
“The movement in the streets is against my tenure. I am fulfilling your demand. I wish our country peace, harmony and common sense,” he said.

The resignation was preceded by a day of unprecedented and dramatic events, which started at 10 a.m. Sunday morning when Sarkisian walked out of a meeting with Pashinyan, in front of television cameras and journalists, warning the opposition leader to recall the events of March 1, 2008, when 10 people died during protests against Sarkisian’s election as president.

That statement was widely viewed as a threat by the former prime minister that he would unleash the same violent wrath on the tens of thousands of protesters, mainly young people.

Soon after the meeting, Pashinyan, along with two other of his Yelk bloc members were arrested by police, prompting a larger, more decisive protest rally on Sunday evening at Republic Square, where media outlets reported some 70,000 people gathered to voice their opposition to Sarkisian’s continued rule.

Early Monday morning, people began marching on the streets of Yerevan, while Deputy Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan ordered the release of Pashinyan and his colleagues, Ararat Mirzoyan and Sasoun Mikaelyan.

At around 5:30 p.m. local time on Monday, the prime minister’s office release Sarkisian resignation statement, sparking jubilant protests on the streets of Yerevan and a call for a rally.

This is a developing story. Check in at asbarez.com for updates or visit our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Source: Asbarez
Link: SERZH SARKISIAN RESIGNS AS PRIME MINISTER