Armenia Braces for Peace Deal Amid Violent Protests, Police Crackdown
The Armenian police deployed paralytic grenades against protesters gathered in front of the Armenian parliament building, where Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was holding a "government hour" session, according to ekhokavkaza.com.
The demonstrators were demanding the resignation of the head of government in Yerevan.
Reports indicate the protesters attempted to breach the police cordon and forcibly enter the parliament premises. Photographs circulated on Telegram depicted injured citizens suffering the effects of stun grenades and sound devices. One protester allegedly had their hand torn off in the commotion.
Police officials stated that 60 protesters were detained outside the Armenian Parliament in Yerevan, according to Zarzand Gabrielyan, chief of the Police Public Relations and Information Department.
The demonstrations in Yerevan are being spearheaded by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who is calling for Prime Minister Pashinyan's resignation. On Wednesday, Galstanyan addressed the crowds, denouncing the "unilateral and humiliating concessions" made by Armenia in ceding territories to Azerbaijan, which he deemed illegal. The Archbishop has organised similar protests in the past.
During his address to parliamentarians, Nikol Pashinyan assured that Yerevan stands ready to sign a peace agreement with Baku "within a month's time." Pashinyan has defended the recent cession of border villages to Azerbaijan as a necessary concession to avert a renewed conflict with Baku.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
