Armenian Prime Minister, Serzh Sargsyan on Sunday walked out of a televised meeting with the leader of a burgeoning opposition movement after days of rallies calling for his resignation. According to Al Jazeera, the protest movement, which has put thousands of people in the streets, is headed by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan who has built and maintained a network of self-organising opposition supporters.
The report recoded the ensuing conversation between the leaders as follows
"I came here to discuss your resignation," Pashinyan, the leader of the opposition Civil Contract Party, had told the prime minister in front of the cameras. This is not a dialogue, this is blackmail, I only can advise you to return to a legal framework ... otherwise, you will bear the responsibility," Sargsyan replied.
"You don't understand the situation in Armenia. The power is now in people's hands," Pashinyan said.
Before walking out of the meeting room, Sargsyan said: "A party that scored eight percent in [parliamentary] elections can't speak on behalf of the people."
Pashinyan then vowed to "step up pressure" on Sargsyan to force him to resign. Recall that Sargsyan, was appointed prime minister this month, after serving 10 years as the country's president.
Protesters have called on him to step down, citing corruption and fears of oligarchic, authoritarian rule.
