On March 31st, 2018, Nikol Pashinyan, supported by the youth movement “Reject Serzh” started his movement “My Step” from Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city, with his supporters and followers.
Nikol Pashinyan reached Yerevan on April 13, three days before the vote in Parliament that they intended to block – the one to make Serzh Sargsyan prime minister. Sargsyan wanted to continue his rule by moving from the presidency into the prime minister’s seat.
After police arrested Nikol Pashinyan on April 22, the larger rallies, spontaneous acts of civil disobedience, escalating numbers of arrests, nonstop honking, and the protests were continued in Armenia’s capital.
On May 1st National Assembly of Armenia had a special session to elect the only candidate of new Prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan from Yelk bloc, who is also considered as “the candidate of people”. After a marathon nine-hour special session at the National Assembly, the ruling Republican Party voted unanimously against Nikol Pashinyan’s candidacy. 45 votes were cast in favor of Pashinyan, while 56 votes were cast against. Then special session on May 8, the parliament voted 59-42 to elect Pashinyan.
Photographers: Nazik Armenakyan, Piruza Khalapyan, Anahit Hayrapetyan, Vaghinak Ghazaryan, Nelly Shishmanyan
Multimedia Editor: Sona Simonyan