Energy News
DEMOCRACY
Armenia detains demonstrators as protest leader seeks to oust PM
Armenia detains demonstrators as protest leader seeks to oust PM
by AFP Staff Writers
Yerevan (AFP) May 14, 2024
Armenia briefly detained dozens of demonstrators in the capital, Yerevan, on Tuesday, when mass protests flared against government plans to concede land to the country's historic foe, Azerbaijan.

Large numbers of police surrounded the crowds of demonstrators, some wrapped in Armenian flags.

Police said they detained 63 people for attempting to block roads. All were released soon afterwards.

At a previous demonstration on Monday, police briefly detained around 150 protesters.

The government has agreed to hand over to neighbouring Azerbaijan territory it has controlled since the 1990s.

Yerevan has started border delimitation efforts, in a bid to secure an elusive peace deal with Baku and avoid a fresh conflict between the two.

But the territorial concessions have sparked weeks of protests by demonstrators who have blocked major roads in an attempt to force Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to change course.

Two opposition lawmakers attended Tuesday's demonstration led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who addressed protesters through a loudspeaker, dressed in black robes.

Galstanyan, a church leader from the Tavush region, where villages are set to be handed over to Azerbaijan, is seeking to launch an impeachment process against Pashinyan.

This initially requires protesters to present an alternative prime ministerial candidate and for 36 lawmakers to vote in favour of the impeachment process.

- Impeachment bid -

The opposition has not yet presented a candidate. Galstanyan, 52, is not eligible because he has joint Armenian and Canadian citizenship.

Parliamentary opposition factions have 35 lawmakers, meaning the protesters must also secure support from an independent MP or someone from Pashinyan's party.

Galstanyan has said an independent MP, Ishkhan Zakaryan, has agreed to vote in favour.

After these hurdles are overcome, an impeachment vote would need to be held within three days and would require 54 votes in favour to be successful.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, two former Soviet republics in the south Caucasus, have been locked in a stand-off over disputed territory, primarily Nagorno-Karabakh, since the break-up of the Soviet Union.

The two countries announced last month they had begun border demarcation work as part of efforts to normalise relations.

Pashinyan is currently in Denmark attending a democracy summit set up by former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The former journalist became Armenia's prime minister in 2018 after leading peaceful street protests.

He cracked down on corruption and introduced popular judicial reforms but infuriated many Armenians by agreeing in 2020 to return parts of Nagorno-Karabakh to Baku.

Azerbaijan recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh in a lightning military offensive in September and talks over a broader border agreement have since intensified.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DEMOCRACY
Concern about Russia dominates as Lithuanians vote
Vilnius (AFP) May 12, 2024
Lithuania voted Sunday in a presidential election dominated by security concerns with the main candidates all agreed the NATO and EU member should boost defence spending to counter the perceived threat from neighbouring Russia. The Baltic state of 2.8 million people fears it could be next in Russia's crosshairs if Moscow wins its war against Ukraine. While the top three contenders agree on defence, they have diverging views on social issues and on Lithuania's relations with China, which have bee ... read more

DEMOCRACY
Chicken fat transformed into supercapacitor components

Kimchi Institute process upcycles cabbage byproducts into bioplastics

Major advancement in sustainable syngas production using solar power

New Insights into the Slow Process of Breaking Down Plant Material for Biofuels

DEMOCRACY
Energy Savings Assistance Program Working Group Meeting Scheduled

Extension Sought for Net Energy Metering Fuel Cell Compliance

New Steps for Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing Funding

Today at the CPUC: Approval of the California Energy Commission's Gas R and D Program for FY 2023-2024

DEMOCRACY
Why US offshore wind power is struggling - the good, the bad and the opportunity

Robots enhance wind turbine blade production at NREL

Offshore wind turbines may reduce nearby power output

Wind Energy Expansion Planned for China's Rural Areas

DEMOCRACY
Activists warn against EU 'tearing up' green policies

Australia unveils budget aimed at becoming 'renewable superpower'

$2.2b pledged to end deadly planet-heating cooking methods

Biden's clean energy tax credits likely to remain 'law of the land': Brainard

DEMOCRACY
Quantum advances enhance understanding of high-temperature superconductors

Push for new US lithium mine leaves some Americans wary

US forges new 'battery belt' in hopes of electric future

China issues draft guidelines to rein in lithium battery industry

DEMOCRACY
New strategy for removing persistent PFAS contaminants unveiled

Nepal's nature threatened by new development push: conservationists

Panama president-elect proposes 'calm' talks on contested mine

Judge tosses California children's pollution suit against US govt

DEMOCRACY
US, China pledge joint methane action at climate talks

Chinese firms win most bids to explore Iraq oil and gas

Manganese and iridium catalyst marks significant advance in sustainable hydrogen production

US, Japanese banks lead fossil fuel financing

DEMOCRACY
Mars agriculture simulations show promise and challenges

Manganese discovery on Mars suggests ancient Earth-like conditions

NASA launches commercial studies to facilitate Mars robotic science

NASA Scientists Gear Up for Solar Storms at Mars

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.