A “color revolution” is underway in Armenia, and it appears that the protesters have achieved their goal.
Many thanks to JLH for translating this article from Bild:
Accompanied by Horns and Dancing, the Coolest Revolutionaries in the World Come to Power
May 3, 2018
BILD describes the situation in Armenia — the land that is suddenly making headlines. They are celebrating the success of a velvet revolution that is said to have paved the way for a regime change.
Yesterday an opposition politician and today leader of a revolution, Nikol Paschinian (42) is on the way to power in Armenia. And he is already the hero of the “little people” who are lining up to embrace him.
Paschinian’s followers are singing and dancing in the squares of Armenia’s few cities, and driving through the streets happily blowing their horns. In the capital of Yerevan — geographically in Asia, but culturally European — there is a festive atmosphere. After days of a street blockade, everything points to a power transfer on May 8th.
But the victory of their peaceful revolution is by no means certain. Pessimists still fear that the old system will strike back by sending in the police and military.
The hopes of many Armenians for a peaceful revolution and an end to nepotism at the levers of power rest upon Nikol Paschinian.
“The problem is as good as solved”
What had happened: After their defeat in parliament, the protest movement in Armenia had yesterday instituted the largest blockade ever of public life in the ex-Soviet republic. Even through roads, the international airport at Yerevan, the train to Georgia and several border crossings were affected.
Most of the young demonstrators formed human chains and waved red-blue-apricot banners. The apricot is the most important export of this bitterly poor country. So the revolution is also being called the Apricot Revolution.
A whole country blockaded by singing and dancing demonstrators
Yerevan is rumbling. It is the greatest revolution in a former Soviet republic (three million residents) since the pro-European Maidan movement wave of protests in the Ukraine in 2013-2014.
On Thursday, the hitherto ruling Republikan Party announced it, too, would support the opposition candidate. A session of parliament was scheduled for May 8th, to elect a new Prime Minister in a second ballot.
In the evening, the great hope [Paschinian] announced the temporary end of the protests. “The problem is as good as solved,” he announced to tens of thousands of people in the capitol. All parties had declared their support for his candidacy.
And the coolest revolutionaries in the world have achieved their goal.
Despite the fact that the world hardly noticed their protest. In their euphoria, the demonstrators expect an end to the corruption and stagnation in Armenia. They hold the ruling party responsible, and have forced its leader, Sersch Sargsian, to step down as prime minister.
Even the evening rallies in the capitol have remained peaceful. Like a street blockade on grandma’s living room rug. The Armenian police appeared, but refrained from action.
The danger: At least until May 8th or new elections, the apparatus of state remains in the hands of the Republikan Party.
Developments from Russia are being eyed suspiciously. Moscow tends to reject so-called “color revolutions”, that is, transition of power through pressure on the street. Russia maintains a military support force in Armenia (3,000 soldiers). It is protection for the Armenians, who have a hostile history with their neighbors Azerbaijan and Turkey.
For a different take on the “Apricot Revolution”, see this article by Srdja Trifkovic.
Simple Russian people are not interested in events in Armenia. Especially there are almost no Russians. But many people dream that Armenian Diaspora criminals will pack their suitcases and leave for their beautiful free homeland.
Reminds me of Ukraine. Yet another duly elected, Russia friendly government goes down via a “color revolution”.
Whatever makes the CIA and Pentagon happy, right?
I have no doubt the preps for NATO admission of Armenia are being hashed out as we speak.
Let’s install a few more missile bases on Russia’s doorstep! What could possibly go wrong?
I agree with you completely. Why would we support, or even care about, the replacement of an elected government through street protests.
Antifa, take note. You can achieve legitimate regime change through massive demonstrations and a little strategic disruption if you learn how to get better press, and perhaps color your masks a bright color rather than the black you seem addicted to.
This is the problem with this event, or to rephrase it ” why would we bother with elected government when it is replaceable from the street”.
There must be a larger intrigue at play because the standard response to delegitimisation of the government is fresh elections, not shoeing in a candidate as pm who was clearly not chosen by a majority.
Some kind of unusual compromise maybe, but it seems not a good example – everyone ends up with mud on their face.
Maybe someone more familiar with local politics will explain us better….
Well if all sides manage the evolution peacefully so much the better, time will tell. In the meantime the parliamentary absolute majority and therefore legislative path is still with the republican party… so I expect this story will play out over a long timeframe. As far as I have read, Armenians are not in general hostile towards Russia.
There are no velvet revolutions. It’s a big bleedin’ lie. If you overturn an old system and do not go after the perpetrators, they simply buy a new coat and put it on, and carry on as before… well, some things shift, naturally, but the kleptocracy just keeps on keeping on.
I am not saying that the new people should treat the old cronies as badly as they have been treated. I am saying that when serious crimes are committed, people need to answer for that. If they don’t, it’s business as usual with a new coat of paint.
For now I am not sure what kind of revolution this is meant to be, or if it even is one. The only thing I make out is that the whole show is headed off the beaten track to… to somewhere else.
All the colour revolutions in the past have led to horrible bloodshed, disruption of everyday life, higher crime rate, and disastrous economic results.