2011 Armenian protests

2011 Armenian protests
Part of the impact of the Arab Spring
A protest in Yerevan's Freedom Square on 8 April 2011
Date19 January – 25 November 2011
(10 months and 6 days)
Location
Yerevan, Armenia
Caused by
Goals
Methods
Resulted in
  • relaxation of free assembly restrictions[6]
  • relitigation of allegations of crimes against opposition members
  • promised judicial reforms[7]
  • permission for opposition rally in Freedom Square[8]
  • amnesty for political prisoners[9]
Parties

Political opposition

Lead figures

Serzh Sargsyan (President)
Tigran Sargsyan (PM)

Number
tens of thousands
up to few hundreds
Casualties
Arrested2+

The 2011 Armenian protests were a series of civil demonstrations aimed at provoking political reforms and concessions from both the government of Armenia and the civic government of Yerevan, its capital and largest city. Protesters demanded President Serzh Sargsyan release political prisoners, prosecute those responsible for the deaths of opposition activists after the 2008 presidential election and institute democratic and socioeconomic reforms, including the right to organise in Freedom Square in downtown Yerevan. They also protested against Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan for banning the opposition from Freedom Square and barring vendors and traders from the city streets. The opposition bloc Armenian National Congress, which has played a major role in organising and leading the demonstrations, had also called for a snap election and the resignation of the government.

The government granted several concessions to the protesters, including agreeing to the opposition's terms for an inquiry into the 2008 protest deaths, granting them a permit to rally in Freedom Square, and releasing several imprisoned opposition activists.

  1. ^ a b Protests in Armenia, Eastweek, 23 February 2011, archived from the original on 12 July 2012, retrieved 25 April 2011
  2. ^ "Armenians Rally, Call for Egypt-Style Uprising". Voice of America. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Municipality ignores vendors' claims". A1+ TV. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Opposition protest against Armenia's government draws 12,000 people in capital". Winnipeg Free Press. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  5. ^ Mkrtchyan, Gayane (11 March 2011). "Armenian Opposition Seizes on Street Traders' Anger". Institute for War & Peace Reporting. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Armenian parliament passes bill on freedom of assembly". Vestnik Kavkaza. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Armenian president orders new impetus to March 1 case". NEWS.am. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Yerevan mayor permits protests". Vestnik Kavkaza. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Armenia plans amnesty in gesture to opposition". Reuters AlertNet. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2011.