Armenia Alliance ( Armenian : Հայաստան դաշինք , romanized : Hayastan dashink’ , HD ) is an Armenian political alliance . It was founded in 2021 and is currently led by former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan .
105-757: During the 2020–2021 Armenian protests , Robert Kocharyan endorsed the Homeland Salvation Movement , a political alliance calling for the resignation of the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan . Kocharyan later announced he would be re-entering politics with the foundation of a new political alliance. The Armenia Alliance held its founding ceremony in Yerevan on 9 May 2021 and consisted the Armenian Revolutionary Federation ,
210-614: A Greek general serving in some of the Persian expeditions, describes many aspects of Armenian village life and hospitality in around 401 BC. Some scholars have linked the name Armenia with the Early Bronze Age state of Armani (Armanum, Armi) or the Late Bronze Age state of Arme (Shupria) . These connections are inconclusive as it is not known what languages were spoken in these kingdoms. Additionally, while it
315-802: A general strike was called that reinvigorated the protests. On 25 February 2021, Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan and more than 40 other high-ranking military officers issued a statement calling for Pashinyan's resignation, which Pashinyan denounced as an attempted military coup . On 18 March 2021, Pashinyan announced early parliamentary elections , to take place on 20 June 2021. Pashinyan confirmed he would resign as Prime Minister in April 2021 but would continue to serve as interim prime minister until snap elections were held. During
420-706: A period of one year. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Pole, led by the Sasna Tsrer Pan-Armenian Party and formerly the European Party of Armenia , had also proposed for itself to lead an interim government for a period of one year. In addition to the two political coalitions, numerous public figures had called on Prime Minister Pashinyan to resign, including the then president of Armenia , Armen Sarkissian , former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan , both catholicoi of
525-521: A protest in Yerevan. On 5 March, Ara Papian , a key figure of the National Democratic Pole, called for strengthening bilateral relations with the United States and proclaimed that Armenia should increase its cooperation with NATO , during a rally in Yerevan. On 15 March, the National Democratic Pole alliance marched in front of the French embassy in Yerevan. Participants called for developing
630-466: A sharp change of power due to the rather small scale of the protests and the unpopularity of the opposition. However, he stressed that Pashinyan needs to restore peace and confidence in the coming weeks, which, will not be easy. EurasiaNet editor Joshua Kucera stated that the Pashinyan government is under threat as many Armenians feel betrayed. "He has many political opponents, and they want to seize
735-789: A statement demanding Pashinyan's resignation . The leadership of the Homeland Salvation Movement welcomed the generals' statement and held a rally in Freedom Square in support of the army. On 26 February, Tigran Khzmalyan , the Chairman of the European Party of Armenia and former member of the National Democratic Pole , stated that Armenia must remain democratic and to be cautious of Russian interference in Armenia's domestic affairs, during
840-559: A strategic partnership and greater military cooperation between Armenia and France . On 18 March, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced early parliamentary elections , to take place on 20 June 2021. On 1 April, a group of five political parties, including the Hanrapetutyun Party , Sovereign Armenia , Fair Armenia , For The Republic and the United Labour Party , signed a joint declaration calling on
945-538: Is a unitary , multi-party, democratic nation-state with an ancient cultural heritage. The Armenian Highlands has been home to the Hayasa-Azzi , Shupria and Nairi . By at least 600 BC, an archaic form of Proto-Armenian , an Indo-European language, had diffused into the Armenian Highlands. The first Armenian state of Urartu was established in 860 BC, and by the 6th century BC it was replaced by
1050-596: Is agreed that Arme was located to the immediate west of Lake Van (probably in the vicinity of Sason , and therefore in the greater Armenia region), the location of the older site of Armani is a matter of debate. Some modern researchers have placed it near modern Samsat , and have suggested it was populated, at least partially, by an early Indo-European-speaking people. It is possible that the name Armenia originates in Armini , Urartian for "inhabitant of Arme" or "Armean country". The Arme tribe of Urartian texts may have been
1155-733: Is also attested by the transfer of the seat of the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the spiritual leader of the Armenian people, to the region. The Seljuk Empire soon started to collapse. In the early 12th century, Armenian princes of the Zakarid family drove out the Seljuk Turks and established a semi-independent principality in northern and eastern Armenia known as Zakarid Armenia , which lasted under
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#17327718991601260-657: Is at the Nor Geghi 1 Stone Age site in the Hrazdan river valley. Thousands of 325,000 year-old artifacts may indicate that this stage of human technological innovation occurred intermittently throughout the Old World, rather than spreading from a single point of origin (usually hypothesized to be Africa), as was previously thought. Many early Bronze Age settlements were built in Armenia (Valley of Ararat, Shengavit, Harich, Karaz, Amiranisgora, Margahovit, Garni, etc.). One of
1365-612: The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war , which began on 27 September 2020, Azerbaijani forces seized control of many settlements, including the strategically important city of Shusha after a three-day-long battle . The war ended in an Azerbaijani victory on 9 November, and a ceasefire was signed between both parties and Russia . According to the agreement, Armenian and Azerbaijani forces will remain in their positions until Armenia returns territories it occupied surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh ( Kalbajar , Aghdam , and Lachin Districts excluding
1470-692: The Ararat region. The further origin of the name is uncertain. It is also further postulated that the name Hay comes from one of the two confederated, Hittite vassal states – the Ḫayaša -Azzi (1600–1200 BC). The exonym Armenia is attested in the Old Persian Behistun Inscription (515 BC) as Armina ( 𐎠𐎼𐎷𐎡𐎴 ). The Ancient Greek terms Ἀρμενία ( Armenía ) and Ἀρμένιοι ( Arménioi , "Armenians") are first mentioned by Hecataeus of Miletus ( c. 550 BC – c. 476 BC ). Xenophon ,
1575-585: The Armenian Apostolic Church , Karekin II and Aram I , and Edmon Marukyan leader of the then third-largest party in parliament Bright Armenia (who announced his own candidacy for the office of prime minister) as well as several regional governors and mayors. In early December, the ban on mass gatherings and strikes stipulated by martial law imposed in September was lifted. On 22 December,
1680-597: The Armenian Highlands . Each of the aforementioned nations and confederacies participated in the ethnogenesis of the Armenians . A large cuneiform lapidary inscription found in Yerevan established that the modern capital of Armenia was founded in the summer of 782 BC by King Argishti I . Yerevan is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities . After the fall of the state of Urartu at
1785-699: The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Ishkhan Saghatelyan was summoned to the NSS. On 14 November, another ARF politician Artsvik Minasyan was detained, while MPs representing the Prosperous Armenia Party Naira Zohrabyan , Shake Isayan, Iveta Tonoyan , Vahe Enfiajyan , Gevorg Petrosyan , and Mikayel Melkumyan were summoned to the NSS. On 20 November, former head of the parliamentary staff Ara Saghatelyan, ex-adviser to
1890-551: The Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Reborn Armenia Party. As of 11 November, more than 362 people have been detained by the Armenian police for participating in the protests. On 11 November, Armenian law enforcement officers detained Gagik Tsarukyan , the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (Tsarukyan was released the next day), while Armenia's ex-president Serzh Sargsyan
1995-731: The Armenian Revolutionary Federation , Arsen Babayan, member of the Homeland Party , and Ara Hakobyan, chairman of the National Agenda Party , were all summoned by the Armenian NSS. Babayan was later charged with "organization of mass disorder". On the same day, one of the organizers of the rallies, opposition politician and ex-director of the National Security Service Artur Vanetsyan , was arrested for plotting to overthrow
2100-572: The Armenian genocide . The genocide was implemented in two phases: the wholesale killing of the able-bodied male population through massacre and subjection of army conscripts to forced labour, followed by the deportation of women, children, the elderly and infirm on death marches leading to the Syrian desert . Driven forward by military escorts, the deportees were deprived of food and water and subjected to periodic robbery, rape, and massacre. There
2205-648: The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 . At the time, Russian-controlled Eastern Armenia , Georgia, and Azerbaijan attempted to bond together in the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic . This federation, however, lasted from only February to May 1918, when all three parties decided to dissolve it. As a result, the Dashnaktsutyun government of Eastern Armenia declared its independence on 28 May as
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#17327718991602310-799: The Bronze Age and earlier, dating to about 4000 BC. Archaeological surveys in 2010 and 2011 at the Areni-1 cave complex have resulted in the discovery of the world's earliest known leather shoe , skirt, and wine-producing facility . Several Bronze Age cultures and states flourished in the area of Greater Armenia, including the Trialeti-Vanadzor culture , Hayasa-Azzi , and Mitanni (located in southwestern historical Armenia), all of which are believed to have had Indo-European populations. The Nairi confederation and its successor, Urartu , successively established their sovereignty over
2415-791: The Caucasus and Persian campaigns . The new government in Istanbul began to look on the Armenians with distrust and suspicion because the Imperial Russian Army contained a contingent of Armenian volunteers . On 24 April 1915, Armenian intellectuals were arrested by Ottoman authorities and, with the Tehcir Law (29 May 1915), eventually a large proportion of Armenians living in Anatolia perished in what has become known as
2520-658: The Collective Security Treaty Organization , the Eurasian Economic Union , and the Eurasian Development Bank . Armenia supported the once de facto independent Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), which was proclaimed in 1991 on territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , until the republic's dissolution in September 2023. The original native Armenian name for the country
2625-613: The Conservative Party , signed a joint declaration calling on the President of Armenia to ensure that democracy and the Constitution of Armenia is upheld in the country during the on-going political crisis. On 9 May, thousands of supporters of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and his newly established political alliance, Armenia Alliance , gathered at Freedom Square in Yerevan. The alliance consists of
2730-475: The First Republic of Armenia under the leadership of Aram Manukian . The First Republic's short-lived independence was fraught with war, territorial disputes , large-scale rebellions , and a mass influx of refugees from Western Armenia, bringing with them disease and starvation. The Entente Powers sought to help the newly founded Armenian state through relief funds and other forms of support. At
2835-612: The Government of Armenia to ensure free and fair upcoming elections, following the on-going political unrest in the country. On 9 April, the National Democratic Pole held a large rally in Yerevan, leaders called for an end to "Russian-Turkish" colonization over Armenia and support a fully sovereign Armenia. On 15 April, eight political parties, including Heritage , the Social Justice Party , Democratic Homeland Party , Armenian Constructive Party , Hayk Party and
2940-456: The Homeland Salvation Movement , a pro-Russian alliance consisting of several opposition parties. The former ruling Republican Party , the largest opposition party in parliament at the time, Prosperous Armenia , and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation joined the Homeland Salvation Movement. On 3 December 2020, the Homeland Salvation Movement announced former prime minister Vazgen Manukyan as their candidate to lead an interim government for
3045-576: The Kara Koyunlu , Timurid dynasty and Ağ Qoyunlu , which continued from the 13th century until the 15th century. After incessant invasions, each bringing destruction to the country, with time Armenia became weakened. In the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid dynasty of Iran divided Armenia. From the early 16th century, both Western Armenia and Eastern Armenia fell to
3150-566: The Lachin Corridor ) back to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan will retain all territories gained during the war, and around 2,000 Russian peacekeeping forces will be deployed in the remaining territory. While the deal was widely celebrated in Azerbaijan, it was viewed as a disastrous defeat in Armenia, and some Armenians quickly took to the streets. Protestors called Prime Minister Pashinyan a "traitor", and demanded him to step down, nullify
3255-524: The March of Dignity ; Armenian : Արժանապատվության երթ , romanized : Arzhanapatvut'yan yert' ) were a series of protests that began following the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement on 10 November 2020. After Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that he signed an agreement to cede Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan and put an end to six weeks of hostilities over
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3360-522: The Nagorno-Karabakh region, thousands of people took to the streets, and hundreds stormed the Parliament building in the capital Yerevan . Protests continued throughout November, with demonstrations in Yerevan and other cities demanding the resignation of Nikol Pashinyan. The protests were led by two different political coalitions: the National Democratic Pole , a pro-Western and pro-European alliance consisting of several political figures, and
3465-777: The National Assembly and becoming the official opposition. Robert Kocharyan, who headed the alliance's electoral list, declined to take his seat in the National Assembly. Seyran Ohanyan was elected to lead the alliance's faction in parliament. On 4 July 2022, Arthur Ghazinian, leader of the One Armenia Party announced that he was renouncing his parliamentary seat from the Armenia Alliance faction. On 29 November 2022, Reborn Armenia members of parliament decided to terminate their positions in
3570-482: The Reborn Armenia party, and is led by Robert Kocharyan who remained non-partisan. The alliance had confirmed that it would participate in the 2021 Armenian parliamentary elections . The One Armenia Party announced it would nominate a single candidate to participate in the elections as part of the Armenia Alliance. Following the 2021 election, the alliance won 21.1% of the popular vote, gaining 29 seats in
3675-776: The Republic of Mountainous Armenia by Armenian forces under command of Garegin Nzhdeh on 26 April, which fought off both Soviet and Turkish intrusions in the Zangezur region of southern Armenia. After Soviet agreements to include the Syunik Province in Armenia's borders, the rebellion ended and the Red Army took control of the region on 13 July. Armenia was annexed by the Red Army and along with Georgia and Azerbaijan ,
3780-707: The Sasanian Empire , it seems, becoming the first officially Christian state, ten years before the Roman Empire granted Christianity an official toleration under Galerius , and 36 years before Constantine the Great was baptised. Prior to this, during the latter part of the Parthian period, Armenia was a predominantly Zoroastrian country. After the fall of the Kingdom of Armenia in 428, most of Armenia
3885-461: The Satrapy of Armenia . The Kingdom of Armenia reached its height under Tigranes the Great in the 1st century BC and in the year 301 became the first state in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion . Armenia still recognises the Armenian Apostolic Church , the world's oldest national church , as the country's primary religious establishment. The ancient Armenian kingdom
3990-494: The Umayyad Caliphate . The principality was ruled by the Prince of Armenia, and recognised by the Caliph and the Byzantine Emperor . It was part of the administrative division/emirate Arminiya created by the Arabs, which also included parts of Georgia and Caucasian Albania , and had its centre in the Armenian city, Dvin . Arminiya lasted until 884, when it regained its independence from the weakened Abbasid Caliphate under Ashot I of Armenia . The reemergent Armenian kingdom
4095-421: The Yerevan City Council . The alliance seeks to develop national-state interests, pursue a foreign policy aimed at Armenia's protection and security, and stopping socio-economic decline. The alliance supports pursuing high levels of development, preventing a new wave of mass emigration, and creating the necessary foundations for lasting peace in the South Caucasus region. The alliance also supports maintaining
4200-403: The dissolution of the Soviet Union . Armenia is a developing country and ranks 85th on the Human Development Index (2021). Its economy is primarily based on industrial output and mineral extraction. While Armenia is geographically located in the South Caucasus , it is generally considered geopolitically European. Since Armenia aligns itself in many respects geopolitically with Europe ,
4305-543: The "Red Sultan" or "Bloody Sultan". During the 1890s, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation , commonly known as Dashnaktsutyun , became active within the Ottoman Empire with the aim of unifying the various small groups in the empire that were advocating for reform and defending Armenian villages from massacres that were widespread in some of the Armenian-populated areas of the empire. Dashnaktsutyun members also formed Armenian fedayi groups that defended Armenian civilians through armed resistance. The Dashnaks also worked for
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4410-420: The 1813 Treaty of Gulistan and the 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay , following the Russo-Persian War (1804–13) and the Russo-Persian War (1826–28) , respectively, the Qajar dynasty of Iran was forced to irrevocably cede Eastern Armenia , consisting of the Erivan and Karabakh Khanates , to Imperial Russia . This period is known as Russian Armenia . While Western Armenia still remained under Ottoman rule,
4515-422: The 19th century, Eastern Armenia was ruled by the successive Safavid, Afsharid and Qajar empires, while Western Armenia remained under Ottoman rule. From 1604, Abbas I of Iran implemented a " scorched earth " policy in the region to protect his north-western frontier against any invading Ottoman forces , a policy that involved a forced resettlement of masses of Armenians outside of their homelands. In
4620-536: The Armenian diaspora have been campaigning for official recognition of the events as genocide for over 30 years. These events are traditionally commemorated yearly on 24 April, the Armenian Martyr Day, or the Day of the Armenian genocide. Although the Russian Caucasus Army of Imperial forces commanded by Nikolai Yudenich and Armenians in volunteer units and Armenian militia led by Andranik Ozanian and Tovmas Nazarbekian succeeded in gaining most of Western Armenia during World War I, their gains were lost with
4725-572: The Armenians were granted considerable autonomy within their own enclaves and lived in relative harmony with other groups in the empire (including the ruling Turks). However, as Christians under a strict Muslim social structure , Armenians faced pervasive discrimination. In response to 1894 Sasun rebellion , Sultan Abdul Hamid II organised state-sponsored massacres against the Armenians between 1894 and 1896, resulting in an estimated death toll of 80,000 to 300,000 people. The Hamidian massacres , as they came to be known, gave Hamid international infamy as
4830-504: The Byzantine Empire conquered Bagratid Armenia. Soon, the other Armenian states fell under Byzantine control as well. The Byzantine rule was short-lived, as in 1071 the Seljuk Empire defeated the Byzantines and conquered Armenia at the Battle of Manzikert , establishing the Seljuk Empire. To escape death or servitude at the hands of those who had assassinated his relative, Gagik II of Armenia , King of Ani , an Armenian named Ruben I, Prince of Armenia , went with some of his countrymen into
4935-605: The Great , becoming the most powerful kingdom of its time east of the Roman Republic . In the next centuries, Armenia was in the Persian Empire 's sphere of influence during the reign of Tiridates I , the founder of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia , which itself was a branch of the Parthian Empire . Throughout its history, the kingdom of Armenia enjoyed both periods of independence and periods of autonomy subject to contemporary empires. Its strategic location between two continents has subjected it to invasions by many peoples, including Assyria (under Ashurbanipal , at around 669–627 BC,
5040-583: The Homeland Party and ex-president Kocharyan are reportedly in favor of participating, while Serzh Sargsyan's Republican Party is in favor of boycotting snap elections held by Pashinyan's government. On 28 January, former MP of the Republic of Artsakh Vahan Badasyan, who is not associated with the Homeland Salvation Movement, held a rally at Yerablur Military Pantheon , where he stated that Prime Minister Pashinyan had to be removed as an enemy and "eliminated" if necessary, and when asked by journalists to clarify, he stated "physically [eliminated], by arms." Badasyan
5145-402: The National Assembly. Prior to the 2023 Yerevan City Council election , the Armenia Alliance and Robert Kocharyan endorsed the Mother Armenia Alliance and Andranik Tevanyan for Mayor of Yerevan . Tevanyan was a former member of parliament with the Armenia Alliance, but stepped down in order to run in the municipal election. Following the election, the Mother Armenia Alliance won 12 seats in
5250-475: The National Salvation Committee in response to the arrests. The protests concluded at late night. At midday, a small group of protesters gathered at the Matenadaran Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts and at the Yerevan Opera Theatre , demanding the release of political prisoners and Pashinyan's resignation. Then, the opposition party Sasna Tsrer held a rally on Yerevan's Freedom Square. The Armenian police, having pulled up additional forces to
5355-433: The Ottoman Empire were systematically exterminated in the Armenian genocide . In 1918, following the Russian Revolution , all non-Russian countries declared their independence after the Russian Empire ceased to exist, leading to the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia . By 1920, the state was incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Armenian SSR . The modern Republic of Armenia became independent in 1991 during
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#17327718991605460-426: The President of Artsakh Tigran Abrahamyan, ex-MP Mihran Hakobyan, activist Narek Malyan, and almost all members of the Adekvad initiative were detained; Malyan and Hakobyan were released the next day. Mihran Hakobyan was charged with "organizing mass disorder" on 26 November. Prior to the general strike, the Director of the Yerevan-based Center for Regional Studies Richard Giragosian stated that he does not expect
5565-403: The Safavid Empire. Owing to the century long Turco-Iranian geopolitical rivalry that would last in West Asia, significant parts of the region were frequently fought over between the two rivalling empires during the Ottoman–Persian Wars . From the mid 16th century with the Peace of Amasya , and decisively from the first half of the 17th century with the Treaty of Zuhab until the first half of
5670-399: The Sèvres treaty. Simultaneously, the Soviet Eleventh Army , under the command of Grigoriy Ordzhonikidze , invaded Armenia at Karavansarai (present-day Ijevan ) on 29 November. By 4 December, Ordzhonikidze's forces entered Yerevan and the short-lived Armenian republic collapsed. After the fall of the republic, the February Uprising soon took place in 1921, and led to the establishment of
5775-464: The Urumu, who in the 12th century BC attempted to invade Assyria from the north with their allies the Mushki and the Kaskians . The Urumu apparently settled in the vicinity of Sason, lending their name to the regions of Arme and the nearby lands of Urme and Inner Urumu. Given that this was an exonym , it may have meant "wasteland, dense forest", cf. armutu (wasteland), armaḫḫu (thicket, thick woods), armāniš (tree). The southerners considered
5880-411: The aftermath of the 1877–1878 Russo-Turkish War and occupied the old city of Alexandropol (present-day Gyumri ). The violent conflict finally concluded with the Treaty of Alexandropol on 2 December 1920. The treaty forced Armenia to disarm most of its military forces , cede all former Ottoman territory granted to it by the Treaty of Sèvres , and to give up all the "Wilsonian Armenia" granted to it at
5985-407: The area, broke up the rally and arrested its participants. A rally organized by 17 opposition parties took in Yerevan throughout the day, demanding the resignation of Pashinyan. The protestors also mourned the fallen Armenians with candelight. More protests erupted near the building of the National Assembly of Armenia, demanding Pashinyan's resignation, with the parliamentary opposition boycott
6090-423: The beginning of the 6th century BC, the Armenian Highlands were for some time under the hegemony of the Medes , and after that they were part of the Achaemenid Empire . Armenia was part of the Achaemenid state from the second half of the 6th century BC until the second half of the 4th century BC divided into two satrapies - XIII (western part, with the capital in Melitene ) and XVIII (northeastern part). During
6195-426: The boundaries of Assyria reached as far as Armenia and the Caucasus Mountains ), Medes , Achaemenid Empire , Greeks , Parthians , Romans , Sasanian Empire , Byzantine Empire , Arabs , Seljuk Empire , Mongols , Ottoman Empire , the successive Safavid , Afsharid , and Qajar dynasties of Iran, and the Russians. Religion in ancient Armenia was historically related to a set of beliefs that, in Persia, led to
6300-410: The citizens to refrain from organizing, holding or participating in rallies, while clashes broke out between the protestors, who were chanting "Nikol is a traitor!", and the Armenian security forces on Freedom Square in Yerevan , where three law enforcement officers were injured. The protesters then moved to the building of the Government of Armenia. The Armenian opposition announced the creation of
6405-509: The city, with reported police brutality. In Gyumri , the protestors, demanding the resignation Pashinyan, also blocked the streets. Protests erupted in Ijevan , demanding Pashinyan's resignation. Protests erupted in Yerevan against the ceasefire of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and the government. Their demands were new parliamentary elections, a new government and also ceding Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan. The 17 opposition parties in Armenia, which have been staging protests demanding
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#17327718991606510-405: The country is a member of numerous European organizations including the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe , the Council of Europe , the Eastern Partnership , Eurocontrol , the Assembly of European Regions , and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development . Armenia is also a member of certain regional groups throughout Eurasia , including the Asian Development Bank ,
6615-423: The country. The attackers also kicked and punched the office door, unsuccessfully trying to break in and "take Azatutyun’s server." The protesters also ransacked the Open Society Foundation office in downtown Yerevan. On the same day, six people were detained on suspicion of organizing mass riots, and calling to seize power and to overthrow the constitutional order. The Armenian Prosecutor General's Office urged
6720-410: The country. The protesters marched to the residence of the prime minister. The opposition's candidate for prime minister Vazgen Manukyan gave a speech where he issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Pashinyan to resign by 8 December, and warned him that if he did not leave office voluntarily that "the enraged people would tear him apart". Protests resumed in Armenia after Prime Minister Pashinyan ignored
6825-427: The date of which has not yet been determined. The opposition's candidate Vazgen Manukyan had earlier rejected the idea of snap elections while Pashinyan remains in power, asserting that Pashinyan would falsify the elections. In early February, opposition leader Ishkhan Saghatelyan of the ARF stated that the coalition members were divided over whether or not to participate in snap elections. The Prosperous Armenia Party,
6930-406: The deaths of as many as 20,000–30,000 Armenians. The Armenians living in the empire hoped that the Committee of Union and Progress would change their second-class status. The Armenian reform package (1914) was presented as a solution by appointing an inspector general over Armenian issues. The outbreak of World War I led to confrontation between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire in
7035-433: The emergence of Zoroastrianism . It particularly focused on the worship of Mithra and also included a pantheon of gods such as Aramazd , Vahagn , Anahit , and Astghik . The country used the solar Armenian calendar , which consisted of 12 months. Christianity spread into the country in the early 4th century AD. Tiridates III of Armenia (238–314) made Christianity the state religion in 301, partly, in defiance of
7140-443: The end of the war, the victorious powers sought to divide up the Ottoman Empire. Signed between the Allied and Associated Powers and Ottoman Empire at Sèvres on 10 August 1920, the Treaty of Sèvres promised to maintain the existence of the Armenian republic and to attach the former territories of Western Armenia to it. Because the new borders of Armenia were to be drawn by United States President Woodrow Wilson , Western Armenia
7245-882: The foundation of the alliance, Kocharyan led a rally in Freedom Square, Yerevan. During the rally, Kocharyan addressed his supporters. 2020%E2%80%932021 Armenian protests [REDACTED] Anti-government protesters [REDACTED] Government of Armenia [REDACTED] Vazgen Manukyan [REDACTED] Ishkhan Saghatelyan [REDACTED] Artur Vanetsyan [REDACTED] Gagik Tsarukyan [REDACTED] Naira Zohrabyan [REDACTED] Arpine Hovhannisyan Supported by: [REDACTED] Serzh Sargsyan [REDACTED] Robert Kocharyan [REDACTED] Seyran Ohanyan [REDACTED] Yuri Khachaturov [REDACTED] Nikol Pashinyan (Prime Minister) [REDACTED] Armen Sargsyan (President) [REDACTED] Vahe Ghazaryan (police chief) The 2020−2021 Armenian protests (also known as
7350-416: The four sons of Aram, Uz founded Trachonitis and Damascus : this country lies between Palestine and Celesyria . Ul founded Armenia; and Gather the Bactrians ; and Mesa the Mesaneans; it is now called Charax Spasini . The first human traces are supported by the presence of Acheulean tools, generally close to the obsidian outcrops more than 1 million years ago. The most recent and important excavation
7455-448: The gorges of the Taurus Mountains and then into Tarsus of Cilicia . The Byzantine governor of the palace gave them shelter where the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was eventually established on 6 January 1198 under Leo I, King of Armenia , a descendant of Prince Ruben. Cilicia was a strong ally of the European Crusaders , and saw itself as a bastion of Christendom in the East. Cilicia's significance in Armenian history and statehood
7560-603: The government and kill the country's prime minister Nikol Pashinyan. Vanetsyan, alongside the ex-head of the Republican Party Vahram Baghdasaryan, ARF politician Ashot Avagyan, as well as commander of the Sisian Volunteer Detachment Ashot Minasyan were charged. All four were released days later after a Yerevan court ruled their detention unlawful. On 13 November, chairman of the supreme council of
7665-527: The government building, where the doors had been opened and the contents in the offices were thrown around. At about 04:00, a group of approximately 40 people attempted to break into the Yerevan office of Azatutyun, the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Executive producer Artak Hambardzumyan said that the group first shouted at the Azatutyun offices, calling its employees "Turks" and traitors, and demanded that its journalists leave
7770-561: The government, of course, without physical violence." The next day the Prosecutor General's Office declared that it had studied the video of Manukyan making this statement and sent it to the National Security Service. In an interview given on 27 January, ex-president of Armenia and Homeland Salvation Movement supporter Robert Kocharyan declared his intention to participate in the coming snap elections,
7875-529: The highway․ Manukyan later referred to them as "bums" who had been paid by the ruling "My Step" coalition, which prompted criticism. On 26 January, while holding a rally in the town of Ararat in Ararat Province , Manukyan stated that if the constitutional route to remove Nikol Pashinyan from power did not work, then they would need to carry out a "rebellion", and clarified when asked by journalists that he meant "seizing buildings and forcibly changing
7980-414: The important sites of the Early Bronze Age is Shengavit Settlement , It was located on the site of today's capital of Armenia, Yerevan . Such things were discovered in Armenia, for example, the oldest shoe , oldest wagon , oldest skirt , and the oldest wine-making facility . Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the mountains of Ararat . There is evidence of an early civilisation in Armenia in
8085-812: The land of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and the Euphrates to the north of the Chaldees to the border of the mountains of Asshur and the land of 'Arara'. Jubilees 8:21 also apportions the Mountains of Ararat to Shem , which Jubilees 9:5 expounds to be apportioned to Aram . The historian Flavius Josephus also states in his Antiquities of the Jews , Aram had the Aramites, which the Greeks called Syrians ;... Of
8190-712: The late 6th century BC, the first geographical entity that was called Armenia by neighbouring populations was established under the Orontid Dynasty within the Achaemenid Empire , as part of the latter's territories. The kingdom became fully sovereign from the sphere of influence of the Seleucid Empire in 190 BC under King Artaxias I and begun the rule of the Artaxiad dynasty . Armenia reached its height between 95 and 66 BC under Tigranes
8295-514: The moment to overthrow him." Armenia Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia . It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south. Yerevan is the capital , largest city and financial center . Armenia
8400-646: The next day. On 23 December, Garnik Isagulyan, Chairman of the National Security Party , was arrested for inciting mob violence against Nikol Pashinyan. On 14 January, the Homeland Salvation Movement announced that it would hold rallies in the provinces of Armenia. On 15 January, Vazgen Manukyan and other opposition figures met people in Gyumri , and went to Vanadzor the next day. A number of residents of Shirak Province unsuccessfully attempted to prevent Manukyan from entering Gyumri by blocking
8505-564: The northern forests to be the abode of dangerous beasts. According to the histories of both Moses of Chorene and Michael Chamchian, Armenia derives from the name of Aram , a lineal descendant of Hayk. In the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament , the Table of Nations lists Aram as the son of Shem , to whom the Book of Jubilees attests, And for Aram there came forth the fourth portion, all
8610-402: The opposition's ultimatum to resign. Hundreds attended the demonstrations in Yerevan and opposition supporters staged anti-government protests and rallies in other cities. The opposition organised acts of civil disobedience and blocked streets in Yerevan. On 9 December, around 15,000 people protested in Yerevan in front of the Armenian parliament building while Prime Minister Pashinyan addressed
8715-500: The parliament. Pashinyan stated that he would only resign if the people demanded it, and that the demands of the opposition and other groups should not be confused with the demands of the people. Several hundred supporters of the opposition protested outside the main government building in Yerevan on 10 December while Pashinyan's government held its session. Police used force to unblock streets and detained 101 protestors in Yerevan. Small intermittent protests still occurred. A strike
8820-758: The patronage of the Georgian Kingdom . The Orbelian Dynasty shared control with the Zakarids in various parts of the country, especially in Syunik and Vayots Dzor , while the House of Hasan-Jalalyan controlled provinces of Artsakh and Utik as the Kingdom of Artsakh. During the 1230s, the Mongol Empire conquered Zakarid Armenia and then the remainder of Armenia. The Mongolian invasions were soon followed by those of other Central Asian tribes, such as
8925-485: The peace agreement, and restart the war. On 10 November, when the protests erupted, there were fights as protesters tried to get over to the podium to speak and were shouted down, with some throwing bottles. Protesters also seized the parliament building by breaking a metal door, and pulled the President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan from a car, demanding to know the whereabouts of Pashinyan. He
9030-569: The research conducted by Arnold J. Toynbee , an estimated 600,000 Armenians died during deportation from 1915 to 1916. This figure, however, accounts for solely the first year of the Genocide and does not take into account those who died or were killed after the report was compiled on 24 May 1916. The International Association of Genocide Scholars places the death toll at "more than a million". The total number of people killed has been most widely estimated at between 1 and 1.5 million. Armenia and
9135-495: The resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, announced that Vazgen Manukyan , Armenia's first prime minister, is their candidate to lead a proposed “national accord” government . Police clashes with the protesters and then detained protesters. Hundreds attended the protests. Mass protests demanding the resignation of the government took place nationwide and chanted against the prime minister. Anti-regime protests saw thousands attend and clap on many streets in cities throughout
9240-468: The session of the National Assembly. More protests erupted in Yerevan, with anti-Pashinyan protestors blocking the streets. The police, trying to restore traffic, pushed the protesters to the sidewalk. More protests erupted in Yerevan, with anti-Pashinyan protestors blocking Baghramyan Avenue, and Tigran Mets Avenue. The police units, as well as the military police, intervened, detaining dozens of activists. More protests were reported in others streets of
9345-407: The territorial integrity and self-determination of Artsakh , protecting Armenia's borders, fighting corruption, improving the quality of public life, and supporting the activities of the Armenian Apostolic Church . The alliance supports banning or severely restricting the activities of non-governmental and humanitarian organizations in Armenia that receive foreign funding. On 9 May 2021, following
9450-584: The traditional Armenian homeland composed of Eastern Armenia and Western Armenia came under the rule of the Ottoman and Persian empires, repeatedly ruled by either of the two over the centuries. By the 19th century, Eastern Armenia had been conquered by the Russian Empire , while most of the western parts of the traditional Armenian homeland remained under Ottoman rule. During World War I , up to 1.5 million Armenians living in their ancestral lands in
9555-657: The wider goal of creating a "free, independent and unified" Armenia, although they sometimes set aside this goal in favour of a more realistic approach, such as advocating autonomy. The Ottoman Empire began to collapse, and in 1908, the Young Turk Revolution overthrew the government of Sultan Hamid. In April 1909, the Adana massacre occurred in the Adana Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire resulting in
9660-473: The works of Agathangelos , Faustus of Byzantium , Ghazar Parpetsi , Koryun , and Sebeos . The name has traditionally been derived from Hayk ( Հայկ ), the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and a great-great-grandson of Noah , who, according to the 5th-century AD author Moses of Chorene (Movsis Khorenatsi) , defeated the Babylonian king Bel in 2492 BC and established his nation in
9765-531: Was Հայք ( [[[wikt:Հայք|Hayk’]]] Error: {{Lang}}: Non-latn text/Latn script subtag mismatch ( help ) ); however, it is currently rarely used. The contemporary name Հայաստան ( Hayastan ) became popular in the Middle Ages by addition of the Persian suffix -stan (place). However the origins of the name Hayastan trace back to much earlier dates and were first attested in c. 5th century in
9870-612: Was also referred to as " Wilsonian Armenia ". In addition, just days prior, on 5 August 1920, Mihran Damadian of the Armenian National Union, the de facto Armenian administration in Cilicia, declared the independence of Cilicia as an Armenian autonomous republic under French protectorate. There was even consideration of making Armenia a mandate under the protection of the United States. The treaty, however,
9975-476: Was arrested and charged with "making public calls to seize power, violate territorial integrity or violently overthrow the constitutional order." On 23 February, thousands gathered in opposition protests in downtown Yerevan for the latest protest demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation. Dozens were arrested. On 25 February, the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces released
10080-408: Was beaten by the protesters and later taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery and was said to be in good condition. The Prime Minister's daughter Mariam Pashinyan said on her Facebook page that the demonstrators entered the room of her younger sisters. The AFP news agency reported that the police authorities who were present did little to prevent the disorder and people roamed the hallways of
10185-522: Was called on 22 December that included support from the subway workers, Yerevan State University members and 17 opposition parties, again calling for the Pashinyan's resignation. The protests grew in size as the opposition set up tents in Republic Square. While there were arrests made, the protests were peaceful. Thousands of protesters marched in the streets of Yerevan in support of the opposition. Pashinyan rejected calls to resign on 23 December and
10290-567: Was divided up into three separate entities ( Armenian SSR , Azerbaijan SSR , and Georgian SSR ). Armenians enjoyed a period of relative stability within USSR in contrast to the turbulent final years of the Ottoman Empire. The situation was difficult for the church, which struggled with secular policies of USSR . After the death of Vladimir Lenin , Joseph Stalin , the general secretary of the Communist Party , gradually established himself as
10395-672: Was incorporated as a marzpanate within the Sasanian Empire . Following the Battle of Avarayr in 451, Christian Armenians maintained their religion and Armenia gained autonomy. The Sassanid Empire was conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate in the mid 7th century, reuniting Armenian lands previously taken by the Byzantine Empire , and Armenia subsequently emerged as Arminiya , an autonomous principality under
10500-821: Was incorporated into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as part of the Transcaucasian SFSR (TSFSR) on 4 March 1922. With this annexation, the Treaty of Alexandropol was superseded by the Turkish-Soviet Treaty of Kars . In the agreement, Turkey allowed the Soviet Union to assume control over Adjara with the port city of Batumi in return for sovereignty over the cities of Kars , Ardahan , and Iğdır , all of which were part of Russian Armenia. The TSFSR existed from 1922 to 1936, when it
10605-424: Was local Armenian resistance in the region, developed against the activities of the Ottoman Empire. The events of 1915 to 1917 are regarded by Armenians and the vast majority of Western historians to have been state-sponsored mass killings, or genocide. Turkish authorities deny the genocide took place to this day. The Armenian Genocide is acknowledged to have been one of the first modern genocides . According to
10710-589: Was rejected by the Turkish National Movement , and never came into effect. The movement used the treaty as the occasion to declare itself the rightful government of Turkey , replacing the monarchy based in Istanbul with a republic based in Ankara . In 1920, Turkish nationalist forces invaded the fledgling Armenian republic from the east. Turkish forces under the command of Kazım Karabekir captured Armenian territories that Russia had annexed in
10815-650: Was ruled by the Bagratuni dynasty and lasted until 1045. In time, several areas of the Bagratid Armenia separated as independent kingdoms and principalities such as the Kingdom of Vaspurakan ruled by the House of Artsruni in the south, Kingdom of Syunik in the east, or Kingdom of Artsakh on the territory of modern Nagorno-Karabakh , while still recognising the supremacy of the Bagratid kings. In 1045,
10920-590: Was split between the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires around the early 5th century. Under the Bagratuni dynasty , the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia was restored in the 9th century before falling in 1045. Cilician Armenia , an Armenian principality and later a kingdom, was located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea between the 11th and 14th centuries. Between the 16th and 19th centuries,
11025-721: Was summoned by the Armenian National Security Service for questioning. Then, the National Security Service arrested Eduard Sharmazanov , the press secretary of the Republican Party and the former deputy chairman of the Armenian National Assembly . He was released the next day and later charged with "organization of mass disorder". On 12 November, Artsvik Minasyan, member of the supreme body of
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