| 2013 Armenian protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Raffi Hovannisian addressing the crowd at Yerevan's Freedom Square on 22 February 2013. Clash between the protesters and the police on Baghramyan Avenue on 9 April 2013. Protests in front of the Yerevan City Hall on 23 July. | |||
| Date | 19 February – 23 December 2013 (10 months and 4 days) | ||
| Location | Armenia: Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, and almost every major cities and towns Armenian diaspora: Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Brussels | ||
| Caused by | alleged electoral fraud during the 18 February 2013 presidential election, corruption, monopoly, inflation, unemployment, increase in public transportation fare | ||
| Goals |
| ||
| Methods | demonstrations, sit-ins, hunger strike, student protest, online activism, civil disobedience | ||
| Resulted in | |||
| Parties | |||
| Lead figures | |||
Raffi Hovannisian Serzh Sargsyan (President) | |||
| Number | |||
| Casualties | |||
| Detained | |||
Various political and civil groups staged anti-government protests in Armenia in 2013. The first series of protests were held following the 2013 presidential election and were led by the former presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian. Hovannisian, who, according to official results, lost to incumbent Serzh Sargsyan, denounced the results claiming they were rigged. Starting on 19 February, Hovannisian and his supporters held mass rallies in Yerevan's Freedom Square and other cities. On 10 March, Hovannisian started a hunger strike, calling elected President Sargsyan to resign before 9 April, the inauguration day. Hovannisian called "for the solution of this unprecedented pan-national fundamental issue before April 9."[9] During an interview on 18 March 2013, Sargsyan said he would not visit Hovannisian and described his claims as "arrogant phrases seasoned with obscenities".[10][11] Sargsyan was inaugurated on 9 April 2013, while Hovannisian and thousands of people gathered in the streets of Yerevan to protest it, clashing with the police forces blocking the way to the Presidential Palace. Hovannisian's movement was dubbed "Barevolution", a portmanteau of barev (բարև, "hello") and revolution, referring to Raffi Hovannisian's habit of walking up to people and greeting them during the election campaign.[12][13]
Since early May 2013, a number of non-formal opposition groups, such as veterans of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, have protested against the government of Serzh Sargsyan. The Pre-Parliament civil initiative also held a number of rallies in Yerevan and other cities calling for alternative struggle against the government. Following an announcement on 20 July 2013 of increases in public transportation fares, young activists (mostly students) held various kinds of protests throughout central Yerevan against the decision.[14] It was described as the first ever act of civil disobedience in independent Armenian history.[15][16] On 5 November, a small violent protest took place in central Yerevan organized by opposition activist Shant Harutyunyan and calling for an overthrow of the government. A series of rallies were held against Armenia's future membership of Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, including on 2 December during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit and on 23 December against the gas deal with Russia.
- ^ "Police Brutality Disrupts Peaceful Protest". Asbarez. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^ "Yerevan municipality cancels decision: Transport fares will not rise". News.am. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ "Fares 100 drams again in Armenia's capital". Tert.am. 25 July 2013. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ "Police stop opposition march in Armenia, arrest 20". Reuters. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ Mkrtchyan, Hasmik (9 April 2013). "Armenian opposition cries foul as president is inaugurated". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ Grigoryan, Marianna (9 April 2013). "Armenia: After Dueling Ceremonies, Opposition at Crossroads". Eurasia.net. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ "'20 detained' as Armenia police block anti-government march in Yerevan". Euronews. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ "Anti-Putin Protests End In Mass Arrests". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Armenian Service. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ "He Says, He Says: Sargsyan-Hovannisian exchange messages through media as standoff continues". ArmeniaNow. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ^ "Decision 2013: Sargsyan says will not visit hunger-striking opponent, calls for 'concrete' proposal". ArmeniaNow. 19 March 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ^ "Sarkisian Signals No Sweeping Government Changes". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Armenian Service. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ^ "Is Armenia On The Brink Of A 'Barevolution'?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Color Coding: "Orange" or "rose" or "apricot", "Barevolution" is re-shaping definition of post-election conflict in Armenia". ArmeniaNow. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Taking people for a ride?: Grounds for bus fare rise questioned amid continuing protests". ArmeniaNow. 23 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ Hayrumyan, Naira (23 July 2013). "Civil Disobedience Instead Of Rallies". Lragir.am. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
The first mass act of civil disobedience is taking place in Armenia.
- ^ "Conspiracy?: Ruling party rep sees outside influence behind bus fare hike protests in Yerevan". ArmeniaNow. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
These protests, however, can be more precisely described as first civil disobedience actions when people do not obey government decisions they consider to be unlawful.