Protesters shut down Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, on Wednesday, as supporters of the opposition leader, Nikol Pashinyan, vented their anger after the ruling Republican party scuttled his bid to become prime minister.
Opposition protesters carrying Armenian flags blocked government buildings and the highway linking the city with the country’s main airport. Pashinyan had called for a general strike to put pressure on the government.
It was a show of strength to the ruling Republican party that Pashinyan could quickly mobilise tens of thousands of Armenians angry at the stranglehold the country is held in by a small coterie of politicians and businessmen.
In a major victory, protesters last week forced the country’s prime minister and most powerful politician, Serzh Sargsyan, to resign after more than 10 years in power.
