By Ani Avetisyan
Violent clashes between protesters and police near the Armenian Parliament have left 98 people injured and led to the arrest of around 100 individuals. The Ministry of Health reported that 66 of the injured have been treated and discharged, while 32 others remain hospitalized with light to medium injuries.
The unrest stemmed from escalating opposition protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over a controversial border deal with Azerbaijan. Addressing these demands, Pashinyan stated, 'If the Armenian people want a change of government, they will implement it.' He said that any change should occur through lawful means and within democratic processes.
The protests started in late April in the northern regions of Armenia, mainly by the residents of the villages directly affected by the border delimitation. Armenia's opposition and the residents of Tavush region fear greater security threats as a result of unilateral concessions from the Armenian side. Armenia agreed in April to hand four Azerbaijani abandoned villages, without demanding the return of Armenian territories controlled by Azerbaijan.
The protests intensified on June 12 when opposition leader Bagrat Archbishop Galstanyan called on his supporters to converge at the Baghramyan-Demirchyan intersection. The crowd, which had been blocking traffic since June 10, grew larger as tensions escalated. Galstanyan accused the police of 'terrorism' against peaceful protesters in his speech.
In response to the escalating situation, police deployed stun grenades and other special measures to disperse the crowd. According to National Assembly President Alen Simonyan, the actions of the protesters were an attack on Armenia's democracy. He warned that those responsible would face legal consequences, stating, 'Don't think that they will be able to make a coup by hooliganism, violence, by bringing in outsiders. It is excluded.'
Amidst the chaos, Pashinyan defended the deployment of a significant police presence near the parliament, citing the need to ensure the normal functioning of the National Assembly and the safety of all citizens, including peaceful protesters. He criticised the opposition for not presenting substantive claims during parliamentary discussions and for not participating in committee meetings.
The opposition, led by the Tavush for the Motherland movement, has been vocal in its demands for Pashinyan's resignation. Artsvik Minasyan, secretary of the 'Armenia' opposition faction, announced a meeting scheduled for June 17 to discuss a resolution on the government's resignation. This session, mandated by law, is expected to further address the opposition's complains.
Meanwhile, media representatives also suffered injuries during the clashes. Operators from CivilNet and News.am were among those hurt, with reports of damaged equipment and injuries from light grenades.
