Police Clash with Demonstrators in Yerevan Protest Over Pashinyan Effigy and 'Partners in Crime' Coin Tossing

A protest in front of the General Prosecutor’s Office in Yerevan turned tense today as demonstrators clashed with police officers. The protest was organized by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the Tavush for the Homeland movement, with supporters gathering to voice their discontent against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his handling of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

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The demonstration took a confrontational turn when one of the protesters brought a scarecrow, dressed as a convict, symbolizing Pashinyan. The protestors chanted "shame" as they waved banners and played vuvuzelas. The police quickly intervened, forcibly confiscating the scarecrow, leading to a brief scuffle between officers and protesters.

Archbishop Galstanyan, who led the rally, accused the police of using violence to break up the peaceful protest. “The police intervened aggressively,” he said, condemning the actions of law enforcement. Despite the brief altercation, Zarzand Gabrielyan, head of the Public Relations and Information Department of the Armenian Police, confirmed that no arrests were made during the incident.

The protest wasn’t limited to chants and banners. Demonstrators threw coins into the air, bearing the faces of Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The coins were inscribed with the words "partners in crime," a reference to accusations that Pashinyan is complicit in allowing Azerbaijan to occupy Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to the displacement of thousands of ethnic Armenians from the region.

Banners at the rally featured photos of key figures from the Artsakh military and political leadership, many of whom were arrested and detained in Baku following Azerbaijan’s offensive in September 2023. The protesters demanded the release of these individuals, whom they believe have been unlawfully held by the Azerbaijani authorities.

This protest is one of many that have taken place in Armenia since the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh. Archbishop Galstanyan and the Tavush for the Homeland movement have been leading demonstrations against Pashinyan’s government, accusing it of failing to protect the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and allowing Azerbaijan to seize control of the region.

Just days before, on October 6, Galstanyan led another rally in Republic Square. Supporters marched with him to the Constitutional Court building, further amplifying their demands for justice and accountability from the Armenian government. The opposition believes that Pashinyan’s leadership has betrayed the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the forced displacement of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians and the illegal detention of several Artsakh leaders.

The protest and the growing discontent among many Armenians reflect the ongoing political crisis in the country. Since the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh, opposition figures have been vocal in their criticism of Pashinyan, accusing him of compromising Armenia’s sovereignty and leaving ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh vulnerable to violence and displacement.

The demonstrators are also calling attention to what they see as inadequate international response to Azerbaijan’s actions. While Archbishop Galstanyan and his supporters continue to demand answers, the Armenian government faces increasing pressure to address these concerns and provide a clear plan for the future of Armenia and its people.

As protests continue, the demands for justice grow louder. The opposition and civil society groups are calling for the Armenian government to be held accountable for its role in the crisis, and for international attention to be focused on the plight of ethnic Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Armenian people are still grappling with the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s military actions, and the political landscape remains deeply divided. Archbishop Galstanyan’s movement is just one of many voices demanding change, and as protests persist, the future of Armenia’s political leadership hangs in the balance.