Armenia’s long-time leader Serzh Sargsyan has resigned after 11 days of massive public protests against his attempt to remain in power as prime minister. Many Armenian people celebrate the resignation by cheering and dancing to loud music in the streets of the capital, Yerevan and around the country.
Facing a renewed wave of thousands of demonstrators, including deserting soldiers, Sargsyan issued a stark mea culpa on Monday. “I was wrong,” he said in a statement on his government’s website. And he resigned.
Residents of the capital, Yerevan, poured out on the streets to celebrate. “The street movement is against my tenure. I am fulfilling your demand,” his statement said.
The demonstrations were sparked by Sargsyan’s decision to take on the post of prime minister after serving for more than a decade as the country’s president, provoking anger among opposition parties and other protest groups.
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Protesters chanted “Nikol, Nikol” in the streets on Monday, the 11th straight day of protests. They were joined by hundreds of uniformed soldiers, despite warnings from the defence ministry that any soldiers protesting would be harshly punished.
This time around, there were sporadic clashes between police and protesters, and authorities arrested hundreds, often arbitrarily. Most detainees have been released. Mr Sargsyan’s announcement came soon after opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was released from detention.
In his statement published on his website, Mr Sargsyan said he was “addressing all citizens of the Republic of Armenia… for the last time as leader of the country.”
“Nikol Pashinyan was right. I was wrong,” he said. “The situation has several solutions, but I will not take any of them… I am leaving office of the country’s leader, of prime minister.”
Mr Pashinyan congratulated the people on their “victory” following the resignation. “You have won, proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia. And no-one can seize this victory from you. I congratulate you, victorious people,” he wrote on Facebook.
>Juthy Saha
Armenian PM Resigns Amid Public Protests
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