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Armenia Detains 3 Opposition Leaders Amid Protests Armenia Detains 3 Opposition Leaders Amid Protests
(about 2 hours later)
YEREVAN, Armenia — The Armenian police detained three opposition leaders on Sunday and dispersed protesters on the 10th day of demonstrations against the appointment of former President Serzh Sarksyan as prime minister, according to officials, opposition politicians and a witness.YEREVAN, Armenia — The Armenian police detained three opposition leaders on Sunday and dispersed protesters on the 10th day of demonstrations against the appointment of former President Serzh Sarksyan as prime minister, according to officials, opposition politicians and a witness.
The appointment by Parliament on Tuesday of Mr. Sarksyan as prime minister after a 10-year term as president has prompted outrage, prompting tens of thousands of opponents to march through Yerevan, the capital, where they staged sit-ins that blocked the streets. The appointment by Parliament on Tuesday of Mr. Sarksyan as prime minister after a 10-year term as president has caused outrage, prompting tens of thousands of opponents to march through Yerevan, the capital, where they staged sit-ins that blocked the streets.
The Constitution approved a referendum in 2015 that shifted most of the authority in the small, ex-Soviet state to the prime minister and turned the presidency into a largely ceremonial post. A referendum in 2015 shifted most of the authority in the small, ex-Soviet state to the prime minister and turned the presidency into a largely ceremonial post.
Prosecutors said the opposition politician Nikol Pashinyan and two other lawmakers had committed “socially dangerous acts,” Agence France-Presse reported, and the police said in a statement that the removal of the protesters had been “guided by law.”Prosecutors said the opposition politician Nikol Pashinyan and two other lawmakers had committed “socially dangerous acts,” Agence France-Presse reported, and the police said in a statement that the removal of the protesters had been “guided by law.”
The statement was issued shortly after Mr. Pashinyan held talks with Mr. Sarksyan, who walked out of the meeting after accusing his opponents of trying to “blackmail” the authorities.The statement was issued shortly after Mr. Pashinyan held talks with Mr. Sarksyan, who walked out of the meeting after accusing his opponents of trying to “blackmail” the authorities.
“This is not talks, not a dialogue, it’s just an ultimatum, blackmail of the state, of the legitimate authorities,” Mr. Sarksyan said.“This is not talks, not a dialogue, it’s just an ultimatum, blackmail of the state, of the legitimate authorities,” Mr. Sarksyan said.
One of the protest leaders, Ararat Mirzoyan, wrote on his Facebook page that he had been illegally detained along with Mr. Pashinyan and a third opposition politician, as well as other protesters.One of the protest leaders, Ararat Mirzoyan, wrote on his Facebook page that he had been illegally detained along with Mr. Pashinyan and a third opposition politician, as well as other protesters.
A witness told Reuters that police officers armed with batons and shields had cleared at least one area of the capital where protests were taking place, but that demonstrators remained in other areas.A witness told Reuters that police officers armed with batons and shields had cleared at least one area of the capital where protests were taking place, but that demonstrators remained in other areas.
Mr. Sarksyan said his opponents “did not learn the lesson of March 1,” referring to a protest rally after his re-election in 2008 in which 10 people were killed in clashes with the police. Mr. Sarksyan said his opponents “did not learn the lesson of March 1,” referring to a protest rally after his re-election in 2008, in which 10 people were killed in clashes with the police.
Mr. Pashinyan countered that “no one has dared and will dare speak to us in the language of threats. I am telling you: You have no understanding of the situation in the country. The situation is different to the one you knew 15-20 days ago.” Mr. Pashinyan countered that “no one has dared and will dare speak to us in the language of threats.” He added: “I am telling you: You have no understanding of the situation in the country. The situation is different to the one you knew 15-20 days ago.”
“The situation in Armenia has changed; you don’t have the power of which you are told. In Armenia, the power has passed to the people,” he added. “The situation in Armenia has changed; you don’t have the power of which you are told. In Armenia, the power has passed to the people,” he said.