Armenians shut down capital in civil disobedience

FE Team | Published: May 02, 2018 20:16:38

YEREVAN, May 2 (AFP): Tens of thousands of Armenians on Wednesday converged on the capital, blocking key transport links and government buildings, as popular anger exploded over the ruling party's rejection of opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan's premiership bid.
In an unprecedented show of defiance, protesters including many elderly people and housewives paralysed Yerevan, with nearly all streets closed to traffic and numerous stores shut, AFP correspondents reported.
Officials said that suburban train services were disrupted and the road linking Yerevan with its airport was blocked.
Crowds of protesters across the city of one million people waved national flags, blew vuvuzelas and shouted "Free, independent Armenia!".
Leading supporters on a march through the city, Pashinyan pledged to ramp up pressure on the authorities.
"Various scenarios are under discussion, under each scenario the people will win," said Pashinyan who was wearing his trademark khaki-coloured T-shirt and a baseball cap.
The subway and railroads have been paralysed and a number of universities and schools have joined the protest movement, he added.
In parliament, lawmakers could not convene for a session due to the absence of a quorum, with the Prosperous Armenia party declaring a boycott.