237 protestors detained from Yerevan and regions. Police

Early in the morning in different parts of Yerevan, representatives of the opposition and supporting citizens blocked roads, held peaceful actions of disobedience. As of 18:00, 237 people were detained, RA Police reports.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, MP of the “Armenia” (Hayastan) faction Ishkhan Saghatelyan told at the rally in France Square that after Nikol Pashinyan’s removal, a government of national accord will be formed. This government will be temporary, it will not be the government of any party, any individual.

“They constantly say what will happen if Nikol leaves? What government will be formed? After Nikol’s removal, a government of national accord will be formed. This government will be temporary, it will not be the government of any party, any individual.” According to Saghatelyan, “there will be no former, present, black, white people in this government -there will be people who will lead this country out of this situation.”

“They say if there is a change of power in Armenia, Aliyev will become angry and start a war. They are trying to scare you with Aliyev. There will be a war if Nikol stays in power, because he has promises to Aliyev,” Saghatelyan said. At the end of the rally Ishkhan Saghatelyan presented the opposition’s plans․

Ararat Mirzoyan briefed Anthony Blinken the actions of Azerbaijan aimed at creating a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh

On May 2, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who is in the United States on a working visit, held a meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Ararat Mirzoyan highly appreciated the US principled position on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, emohasized the importance of the statement of the US President Joe Biden on the anniversary of the Genocide this year, which reaffirms the commitment of US to humanitarian and human rights principles.

The sides also touched upon the issues of international and regional security and stability. The Armenian side presented the situation in the South Caucasus region and Armenia’s position on the processes aimed at establishing regional peace and stability. The interlocutors exchanged ideas on starting negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a comprehensive peace agreement. The Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed the importance of the US mediating efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group. Ararat Mirzoyan briefed Anthony Blinken the actions of Azerbaijan aimed at creating a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh and subjecting Nagorno-Karabakh to full ethnic cleansing.

In the context of the humanitarian issues resulting from the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, the need for repatriation of the Armenian prisoners of war and other hostages, and preserving the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories fallen under control of Azerbaijan. During the meeting, reference was made to the implementation of the agreements on the establishment of the Commission on Border Demarcation and Security.

Minister Mirzoyan also briefed the interlocutor on the developments in the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, stressing the readiness of the Armenian side to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey and open the border. Secretary Blinken noted that the United States fully supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and signifies Armenia’s constructive efforts in that process. At the end of the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan and Anthony Blinken signed a memorandum of mutual understanding on “Cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy” between Armenia and the United States.

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan also held a meeting with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Victoria Nuland exchanged views on the issues of regional security and stability. The implementation process of the agreements reached between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Sochi and Brussels was discussed. They also touched upon the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the process of launching negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a comprehensive peace agreement. In this context, the Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed the importance of resuming the work of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. The humanitarian issues resulting from the 44-day war were discussed, particularly, the immediate release and repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war, and the preservation of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories fallen under the Azerbaijani control. The Foreign Minister of Armenia presented the recent developments on the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.

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