Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinian has pledged to expand daily “blockades” of key government buildings after tens of thousands of people in Yerevan protested parliament's election of ex-president Serzh Sarkisian as prime minister, which cemented his continued dominance of power.
Parliament voted 76-17 with no abstentions to put Sarkisian back into power just eight days after his presidency ended and his hand-picked successor, Armen Sarkisian -- no relation -- was elected by parliament to a single seven-year term.
The appointment of Sarkisian as prime minister on April 17 came as police detained at least 80 activists who were demonstrating against the move in Yerevan, where crowds have been rallying for days in protest.
(Photos by RFE/RL's Amos Chapple)
Parliament voted 76-17 with no abstentions to put Sarkisian back into power just eight days after his presidency ended and his hand-picked successor, Armen Sarkisian -- no relation -- was elected by parliament to a single seven-year term.
The appointment of Sarkisian as prime minister on April 17 came as police detained at least 80 activists who were demonstrating against the move in Yerevan, where crowds have been rallying for days in protest.
(Photos by RFE/RL's Amos Chapple)
![Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinian (center) on April 17 in Yerevan: “I declare today the launching of a velvet [revolution], a peaceful people’s revolution," Pashinian said. "A revolutionary situation is brewing across the country. Demonstrators are blocking streets and...highways in the cities of Gyumri, Ijevan, Vanadzor, Kapan and Metsamor. People are not going to work. Mass strikes have begun."](https://gdb.rferl.org/ef3107b3-0670-4f87-b1cb-e1659975d915_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
