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Armenia president urges PM to resign amid discontent at truce deal

Tuesday, 17 November 2020 3:21 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 17 November 2020 3:27 PM ]

Buildings damaged by shelling are seen in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, on November 3, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has called for the resignation of the prime minister and his administration, amid deepening outrage across the South Caucasus country at a truce deal with Azerbaijan.

In a televised speech late on Monday, Sarkissian also urged Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration to come up with a “road map” for snap elections, saying that the polls were needed to resolve a political crisis sparked by the truce over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The president also called for the creation of an interim “government of national accord” until elections are held.

“The entire Armenian people are entering a period of new trials in which every mistake can bring forth disastrous consequences,” Sarkissian said. “I hope that all the political forces will realize the responsibility of the moment.”

Sarkissian said that his proposals reflected the dominant view of the public figures and political party leaders with whom he had held consultations in recent days.

“Taking into account the current situation, taking into account public demands, it is obvious that in order to avoid internal political upheavals, the holding of early parliamentary elections is inevitable,” said the president, whose powers are largely ceremonial and who lacks authority to dismiss Pashinyan.

The dismissal of Pashinyan requires a vote of parliament in a chamber that has been overwhelmingly controlled by the prime minister’s party since he swept to power in 2018.

Armenia says it thwarted assassination attempt on PM Pashinyan

Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) says it has foiled an attempt by former officials to assassinate the country’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and to seize power following the recent ceasefire deal with Azerbaijan Republic.

Pashinyan’s administration has been under fire since it signed a ceasefire agreement with Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh on November 6. The deal secured Azeri territorial advances following six weeks of intense fighting.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been populated by ethnic Armenians.

Pashinyan said he had no choice but to sign the agreement to prevent what he called “total collapse.”

Armenian people have been fuming since then. On Monday, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan resigned as pressure mounted.

On Saturday, Armenian authorities said they had foiled an attempt on the prime minister’s life.