Demonstrators led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian clashed with riot police in Yerevan on Friday as they continued their campaign for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation. After attempting to surround the government seat, the protesters marched to the Foreign Ministry to demand a meeting with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan over anti-Armenian statements from Azerbaijan. When denied entry, Galstanian threatened to force his way in, leading to a four-hour standoff and subsequent scuffle. The Interior Ministry reported 29 detentions, including two deacons, one seriously injured. Galstanian blamed the police and Mirzoyan for the violence, vowing to continue protests, which began on May 9 against Pashinyan’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Critics argue these concessions increase security risks and embolden Azerbaijani demands.
The day after attempting to surround Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government headquarters, the demonstrators marched to the Armenian Foreign Ministry building. They demanded a meeting with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. Galstanian stated that Mirzoyan or other senior ministry officials needed to explain their perceived failure to respond to the “humiliating” anti-Armenian statements made by Azerbaijan’s leaders.
Top diplomats refused to meet with Galstanian and the accompanying opposition lawmakers, prompting Galstanian to insist that police officers allow him entry to “get the answers.” Addressing his supporters, who were blocking the main entrance to the building guarded by a comparable number of police officers, Galstanian declared, “Either they will come out or we will go in.”
Following repeated threats to use force during the four-hour standoff, security forces attempted to push the crowd back from the entrance. The protesters, including Galstanian, resisted and engaged in physical altercations with the police.
The Armenian Interior Ministry reported that at least 29 people were detained, including two deacons of the Armenian Apostolic Church. According to Galstanian, one of the deacons was seriously injured.
Aram Hovannisian, the chief of the national police who personally led the security forces on the scene, accused the popular archbishop of provoking the clash. Galstanian, who claimed he had been kicked by an officer, blamed both the police and Mirzoyan for the violence.
“Let the police know that they can’t intimidate us. This is just a prelude,” Galstanian said before leading the crowd back to St. Anna Church, the starting point of his daily protests aimed at forcing Pashinyan to step down.
The 53-year-old cleric, backed by the Armenian opposition, began his rallies in Yerevan on May 9 after leading protests in the northern Tavush province against Pashinyan’s decision to cede several border areas to Azerbaijan. Pashinyan has argued that the territorial concessions are necessary to prevent Azerbaijani military aggression against Armenia. His detractors claim that he is creating additional security risks for the country and encouraging Baku to demand more territory.
