Anti-government protesters in Armenia have been urged to continue their fight. (AFP pic)
YEREVAN: An Armenian opposition leader on Monday urged demonstrators to take to the streets again, even after he and dozens of others were hurt in protests over moves by the country’s former president to maintain his grip on power.
“I call on all of the population of Yerevan and other towns and cities in Armenia to take to the streets tomorrow (Tuesday), block the main axes, and start a strike,” Nikol Pashinian told a rally.
He described Monday’s demonstrations as a “turning point for the country”.
During the rallies against former president Serzh Sargsyan, police used stun grenades against protesters who sought to break through a barbed wire cordon in the centre of Yerevan in an effort to get to the parliament building.
The pro-Russia politician ended his second and final presidential term last week, but the ruling party has nominated him for the post of prime minister.
The opposition says a new parliamentary system of government will allow Sargsyan, 63, to maintain his grip on power.
Dozens were injured, including Pashinian, who called the protests, as well as a number of police officers.
Authorities said 46 people, including six policemen, sought medical help.
Pashinian, who was injured in the face and arms, was briefly taken to hospital.
Authorities called on him to end the protests, which they threatened to break up by force. However, Pashinian later returned sporting a bandaged arm and vowed to continue the demonstrations.
Extra police and a water cannon have been deployed in the city centre, while prosecutors opened a criminal probe over mass riots in the capital.
The ruling Republican Party and the government-friendly Armenian Revolutionary Federation formally nominated Sarkisian as candidate for the post of prime minister on Monday despite the protests.
Parliament is expected to elect him on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, demonstrators marched through the centre of Yerevan and blocked streets, some chanting “Armenia without Serzh” and “Serzh is a liar.”
“Our goal right now is to prevent Serzh Sargsyan from becoming the country’s leader for a third time without violence and the use of force,” Pashinian said.
Several hundred people sat or lay down on pavements, blocking roads leading to the parliament building and universities.
Some built barricades using cast-iron benches and metal trash cans.
Parliamentary vice-speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, who is the ruling party’s spokesman, dismissed the protests as “the opposition’s artificial and fake agenda”.
“No one will prevent us from voting tomorrow for our candidate Serzh Sargsyan,” he said.
The rallies began on Friday when more than 4,000 people took part.
A shrewd former military officer, Sargsyan has been in charge of the landlocked South Caucasus nation of 2.9 million since winning a presidential vote in 2008.
The country’s new figurehead president, Armen Sarkissian, was sworn in last week but his powers will be weaker under a new parliamentary system of government.
Opposition politicians say the shift to a parliamentary republic with a powerful prime minister has been designed to increase Sargsyan’s grip on power in the impoverished Moscow-allied country.
Tensions in Armenia often flare up during presidential and parliamentary elections.
After Sargsyan was first elected president in February 2008, 10 people died in bloody clashes between police and supporters of the defeated opposition candidate.
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