- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Over 200 People Detained as Anti-Government Protests in Armenia Enter Eighth Day

© Sputnik / Asatur YesayantsA participant in a protest rally against the election of former President Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister of Armenia in Yerevan
A participant in a protest rally against the election of former President Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister of Armenia in Yerevan - Sputnik International
Subscribe
YEREVAN (Sputnik) - There have now been a total of 233 people detained in Yerevan during the ongoing protests against the appointment of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister, Armenian police spokesman Edgar Dzhanoyan told Sputnik on Friday.

"As of now 233 people were delivered to police departments," Dzhanoyan said.

READ MORE: Armenian Police Trying to Disperse Protesters in Yerevan

The protesters are detained upon their attempts to block the streets of the city, a Sputnik correspondent said. Among the arrested are drivers who try to jam the roads.

Earlier in the day, Armenian lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan, the leader of the opposition "Way Out" (Yelq) Alliance, announced the start of a blockade of roads, adding that the transport system collapse would show Sargsyan that he had no control over the situation in the country.

Since April 13, the Armenian capital has been hit by a series of protests against Sargsyan's candidacy for premiership. On Tuesday, the parliament elected Sargsyan as prime minister, while the protesters announced the beginning of a "velvet revolution" in the country.

Presidential candidate Armen Sarkisian addresses the National Assembly in Yerevan on March 01, 2018 - Sputnik International
Armenia's Ruling Party Nominee Sarkissian Elected New President - Commission
On Thursday, the protesters sought to blockade one of the government buildings ahead of the first government meeting under Sargsyan’s chairmanship, but police pushed them away to enable the ministers to enter the building.

Sargsyan, who served as the Armenian president from 2008 until recently, had to step down due to presidential term limits. Armen Sarkisian was inaugurated as the new president on April 9 and became the first Armenian head of state who was elected by the parliament since the country switched from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government. Sargsyan's nomination for prime minister is largely regarded as an attempt to stay in power, since the newly amended constitution transferred some of the presidential powers to the head of the government.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала