Kremlin watching developments in Armenia, Putin’s spokesman says
18.04.2018,
15:41
A spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Moscow was watching the ongoing protests in Armenia when asked to comment on the protest actions in Yerevan against the election of the former president Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister, Life reported.
YEREVAN, April 18. /ARKA/. A spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Moscow was watching the ongoing protests in Armenia when asked to comment on the protest actions in Yerevan against the election of the former president Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister, Life reported.
It said Peskov expressed hope that developments there will not go beyond the country’s legislation. He said Russian president Putin had a telephone conversation with Serzh Sargsyan yesterday, to congratulate Sargsyan on the election.
“In the evening, it was quite late; Putin called Sargsyan and congratulated him on being elected as prime minister. Of course, they exchanged opinions,” he added.
The leader of the oppositional Yelk parliamentary bloc Nikol Pashinyan announced April 17 the start of the ‘velvet’ revolution in Armenia. "I officially declare that a revolutionary situation has arisen in Armenia, and today I am announcing the beginning of a peaceful velvet revolution," Pashinyan said to his supporters.
Protests in Armenia have continued for the sixth straight day shutting Yerevan’s downtown. As many as 46 people, including six police officers, were reported injured during a clash on April 16. The protests were aimed at preventing former president Serzh Sargsyan from assuming the position of prime minister.
He resigned as president a week earlier. Armenia’s new constitution approved in a 2015 referendum makes the prime minister the country’s most powerful figure. Sargsyan was elected as prime minister during a special session of parliament on Tuesday by a vote of 77 to 17.-0-
It said Peskov expressed hope that developments there will not go beyond the country’s legislation. He said Russian president Putin had a telephone conversation with Serzh Sargsyan yesterday, to congratulate Sargsyan on the election.
“In the evening, it was quite late; Putin called Sargsyan and congratulated him on being elected as prime minister. Of course, they exchanged opinions,” he added.
The leader of the oppositional Yelk parliamentary bloc Nikol Pashinyan announced April 17 the start of the ‘velvet’ revolution in Armenia. "I officially declare that a revolutionary situation has arisen in Armenia, and today I am announcing the beginning of a peaceful velvet revolution," Pashinyan said to his supporters.
Protests in Armenia have continued for the sixth straight day shutting Yerevan’s downtown. As many as 46 people, including six police officers, were reported injured during a clash on April 16. The protests were aimed at preventing former president Serzh Sargsyan from assuming the position of prime minister.
He resigned as president a week earlier. Armenia’s new constitution approved in a 2015 referendum makes the prime minister the country’s most powerful figure. Sargsyan was elected as prime minister during a special session of parliament on Tuesday by a vote of 77 to 17.-0-
