Members of Parliament Nikol Pashinyan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Sasun Mikayelyan have been detained, the Special Investigative Committee of Armenia reports.

The Committee said the lawmakers had been leading protests in Yerevan accompanied by violations of the Law on the freedom of Assembly and without notifying the authorized bodies.

The Committee said they blocked the buildings close to the sites of the protests and failed to take necessary measures to ensure the normal course of the rally and inform its participants about the Police demands.

Furthermore, the Investigative Committee said, Nikol Pashinyan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Sasun Mikayelyan periodically urged the participants of the rally to block the streets in Yerevan, entered buildings under special protection and disrupted their activity.

The Speaker of the National Assembly has been notified about the detention.

Nikol Pashinyan was picked up after Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan cut short a televised meeting between the two.</s>Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan walked out of a televised meeting with the leader of a burgeoning opposition movement on Sunday, after days of rallies calling for his resignation.

The protest movement, which has put thousands of people in the streets, is headed by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan who has built and maintained a network of self-organising opposition supporters.

"I came here to discuss your resignation," Pashinyan, the leader of the opposition Civil Contract Party, had told the prime minister in front of the cameras.

 

"This is not a dialogue, this is blackmail, I only can advise you to return to a legal framework ... otherwise, you will bear the responsibility," Sargsyan replied.

 

"You don't understand the situation in Armenia. The power is now in people's hands," Pashinyan said.

 

Before walking out of the meeting room, Sargsyan said: "A party that scored eight percent in [parliamentary] elections can't speak on behalf of the people."

Pashinyan then vowed to "step up pressure" on Sargsyan to force him to resign.

Sargsyan was appointed prime minister this month after serving 10 years as the country's president.

Protesters have called on him to step down, citing corruption and fears of oligarchic, authoritarian rule.

The former president was about to complete his second and final term before Armenia's semi-presidential government was changed to a parliamentary system, empowering the position of the prime minister, who does not face term limits.

Sargsyan had promised not to assume the role of prime minister, but his majority in parliament appointed him earlier this month.</s>Police in Armenia have detained an opposition MP who has been leading anti-government protests, sparking angry scenes.

Nikol Pashinyan was picked up after Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan cut short a televised meeting between the two.</s>The meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan has ended without results, according RIA Novosti.

At the beginning of the meeting, Sargsyan stated that negotiations should not be held in the presence of journalists. Pashinyan said that only Sargsyan's resignation will be discussed.</s>Armenia's prime minister and ex-president Serzh Sargsyan walked out of a televised meeting Sunday with anti-government protest leader Nikol Pashinyan shortly after it began, denouncing the opposition's "blackmail".

"I came here to discuss your resignation," Pashinyan, the leader of the opposition Civil Contract party, had told the prime minister in front of the cameras.

"This is not a dialogue, this is blackmail, I only can advise you to return to a legal framework... otherwise you will bear the responsibility," Sargsyan replied.

"You don't understand the situation in Armenia. The power is now in people's hands," said Pashinyan.

"A party that scored eight percent in (parliamentary) elections can't speak on behalf of the people," Sargsyan said before walking out of the meeting room in Yerevan's Marriott hotel.

Pashinyan then vowed to "step up pressure" on Sargsyan to force him to resign.

Heeding a call from Pashinyan, protesters had held rallies over the last 10 days to denounce Sargsyan's shift to a premier's post after a decade serving as president.

Tens of thousands of people flocked to central Yerevan's Republic Square on Saturday to protest against Sargsyan's rule.

Armenian President Armen Sarkisian, who succeeded Sargsyan, met Pashinyan at the square and two men had a brief consversation.

Armenian authorities said Saturday more than 70 people have been arrested, including two people suspected of building bombs.

The national security service said two people with opposition connections were arrested for preparing bombings in public places.

In the evening, about 50,000 demonstrators gathered in the capital's central Republic Square.

Opposition supporters have criticized the 63-year-old leader over poverty, corruption and the influence of powerful oligarchs.

A former military officer, Sargsyan has been in charge of the landlocked South Caucasus nation of 2.9 million people for a decade.

Under a new parliamentary system of government, lawmakers elected him as prime minister last week.

Constitutional amendments approved in 2015 have transferred power from the presidency to the premier.

After he was first elected in 2008, 10 people died and hundreds were injured in bloody clashes between police and supporters of the defeated opposition candidate.</s>Armenia's political turmoil deepened on Sunday with the detention of anti-government protest leader Nikol Pashinyan, shortly after Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan stormed out of talks with him on the tenth day of mass rallies against his rule.

Pashinyan and two other opposition politicians "were detained as they were committing socially dangerous acts", the prosecutor general's office said in a statement.

Armenian police earlier denied opposition MP Sasun Mikaelyan's report that Pashinyan had been arrested.

As a lawmaker, Pashinyan is protected by parliamentary immunity and cannot be arrested without the approval of fellow MPs.

On Sunday morning, Sargsyan stormed out of talks with Pashinyan, accusing him of "blackmail".

The televised meeting between the premier and Pashinyan lasted only a couple of minutes before the premier walked out.

"I came here to discuss your resignation," Pashinyan, the leader of the opposition Civil Contract party, had told the prime minister in front of the cameras.

"This is not a dialogue, this is blackmail, I only can advise you to return to a legal framework... Otherwise you will bear the responsibility" for the consequences, replied Sargsyan, a former military officer.

"You don't understand the situation in Armenia. The power is now in people's hands," Pashinyan hit back.

Sargsyan said the Civil Contract party "can't speak on behalf of the people", having scored only 8 percent in recent parliamentary election, before he walked out of the meeting room in Yerevan's Marriott hotel.

Pashinyan then vowed to "step up pressure" on Sargsyan to force him to resign and called on police officers to "lay down arms and join in the protests".

Bu instead security forces intervened using stun grenades and began dispersing the crowd in Yerevan's suburban Erebuni district.

The EU delegation to Armenia issued a statement expressing "concern" over the rapidly unfolding crisis.

"The European Union reiterates that it is crucial that all parties show restraint and responsibility and urgently seek a negotiated solution," the statement said.

Tens of thousands of people had flocked to central Yerevan's Republic Square on Saturday to protest against Sargsyan's rule.

Armenian President Armen Sarkisian, who succeeded Sargsyan, met Pashinyan at the square and two men had a brief consversation.

Armenian authorities said Saturday more than 70 people have been arrested, including two people suspected of building bombs.

The national security service said two people with opposition connections were arrested for preparing bombings in public places.

In the evening, about 50,000 demonstrators gathered in the capital's central Republic Square.

Opposition supporters have criticized the 63-year-old leader over poverty, corruption and the influence of powerful oligarchs.

After Pashinyan's detention, thousands of protesters gathered in Yerevan's Republic Square outside the government's headquarters, which were cordoned off by riot police.

Dozens of people were detained, an AFP journalist reported from the scene.

Pashinyan had earlier announced the "start of a peaceful velvet revolution" in the landlocked South Caucasus nation of 2.9 million people.

He called for a nationwide campaign of "civil disobedience," urging civil servants "to stop obeying Sargsyan".

Under a new parliamentary system of government, lawmakers elected Sargsyan as prime minister last week.

Constitutional amendments approved in 2015 have transferred power from the presidency to the premiership.

After Sargsyan was first elected in 2008, 10 people died and hundreds were injured in post-election clashes between police and supporters of the defeated opposition candidate.</s>Police in Armenia have detained an opposition MP who has been leading anti-government protests, sparking angry scenes.

Nikol Pashinyan was picked up after Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan cut short a televised meeting between the two.</s>“I address you for the last time as the head of state,” Sargsyan's press service quoted him as saying. “Nikol Pashinyan [leader of the protest rallies] was right, I was mistaken. There are several solutions to the current situation, but I won’t resort to any of them. I leave the post of the head of our country.”</s>Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption There were scuffles as Nikol Pashinyan was detained

Thousands of anti-government protesters have rallied defiantly in the Armenian capital Yerevan after riot police seized their leader.

Nikol Pashinyan was arrested after televised talks with Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan collapsed.

In a tense exchange, the opposition MP insisted the PM should quit and Mr Sargsyan accused him of "blackmail".

The opposition object to Mr Sargsyan clinging to power after serving two consecutive terms as president.

He was elected to the post by parliament on Tuesday, fuelling anger on the streets.

As well as Mr Pashinyan, two other opposition politicians and some 200 demonstrators have been held, leaving the protest movement without political leadership.

The EU, which has a partnership agreement with Armenia, called on all sides to "show restraint and act responsibly".

Armenia country profile

Protesters undeterred

By Rayhan Demytrie, BBC News, in Armenia's capital Yerevan

Armenia's biggest square is full of protesters. The detention of Mr Pashinyan and other opposition leaders did not stop protesters from turning up. They are holding placards that read "I am Nikol" and chanting his name, along with another slogan, "Serzh go".

University student Elina Isahanyan, wrapped in the Armenian flag, says she has been participating in the protests for nine days.

"My friends and I are not attending classes. This is our way to show to this new government that we want change," she says.

"We are peaceful and we don't want any violence. We don't want the police to be against us."

Buses loaded with police in flak jackets can be seen in the streets leading up to the square. The justice ministry issued a warning reminding citizens that the police have the right to disperse demonstrations regardless of the nature of the protests.

Protests against Mr Sargsyan have been held in other parts of Armenia - the second largest city of Guymri and the city of Vanadzor.

How did Sunday's meeting fall apart?

Mr Pashinyan was previously jailed over his part in protests against Mr Sargsyan in 2008. He recently described the campaign he leads as a "velvet revolution", referring to the peaceful protests in 1989 that ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

He met Mr Sargsyan at a hotel in Yerevan on Sunday morning, in the presence of dozens of journalists.

The exchange was brief. After the prime minister said he was glad his rival had "responded to my numerous appeals to negotiate", Mr Pashinyan struck an uncompromising note.

Image copyright AFP Image caption PM Serzh Sargsyan denounced Mr Pashinyan's "blackmail" before aborting their meeting

"I think there is a misunderstanding," he said. "I have come here to discuss the terms of your resignation and the terms of a peaceful and smooth transition of power."

Mr Sargsyan said that "this is not a dialogue, this is blackmail" and left.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Scuffles broke out between police and protesters on Sunday

Addressing the assembled reporters afterwards, Mr Pashinyan called on his supporters to continue their protests, which have continued for more than a week.

He was detained shortly afterwards, as riot police using stun grenades dispersed protesters.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Masked police have been holding back the crowds

His supporters then gathered outside a police station where they believed he was being held before they set off towards the capital's central Republic Square.

Why is there such anger at Serzh Sargsyan?

He has been accused of failing to address continuing tensions with Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as widespread poverty at home.

His government has also been criticised by the opposition for its close ties to Russia, whose leader Vladimir Putin also moved between the positions of president and prime minister to maintain his grip on power.

While he was president, the country shifted from a presidential system to a parliamentary republic, vesting real power in the office of the prime minister.

He stood for prime minister despite promising he would not.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Here Serzh Sargsyan's face is scored out on a poster

His supporters argue that the tough veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war with Azerbaijan in the late 1980s has provided the national security Armenia needs.

What dangers lie ahead?

Serzh Sargsyan, who served as president from 2008 until this year, has been left largely unchallenged for years because of a lack of clear rivals and alternatives, Armenian affairs analyst Richard Giragosian tells BBC News.

"Pashinyan was the exception with his unique combination of charisma with a good sense of street politics, which only makes this current confrontation more serious." he says.

The power of the ruling Republican Party is potentially even more dangerous as it "undermines the necessity for consensus and compromise".

"The real question now is what lies ahead. After such polarisation and dissent, the launch of parliamentary politics seems destined to fail, undermined by an inherent lack of trust or public confidence."

However the crisis plays out, "there is little or no foreign policy dimension", he adds. "It is not about Russia and not about Europe. It is local politics and economics."

The Republic of Armenia Capital: Yerevan Population 3.1m

Area 29,743 sq km (11,484 sq miles)

Major languages Armenian, Russian

Major religion Christianity

Life expectancy 71 years (men), 77 years (women)

Main exports Diamonds, machinery, foodstuffs

The small landlocked country saw an economic recovery last year, the World Bank reports.

However, it is vulnerable to developments in Russia, its biggest trading partner after the EU and a major destination for its migrant workers.</s>Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan had a brief meeting today.

Pashinyan insisted he had agreed to meet to discuss Serzh Sargsyan’s departure.

“This are not negotiations, this is an ultimatum to the state and the legal authorities. You don’t understand the level of responsibility, you have not learnt lessons from the events of March 1,” Serzh Sargsyan said.

“If you are going to continue speaking the same way, the only thing I can do is to advise you to return to the legal field and the framework of legal actions, otherwise you will bear responsibility for everything,” Prime Minister said.

Pashinyan said thousands of people have taken to the streets and the situation is not the same as 15 or 20 days ago. “The power in the Republic of Armenia has been transferred to people.

PM Serzh Sargsyan responded that a faction that has won 7-8 percent of the votes has no right to speak on behalf of people. I have no wish to continue speaking to you. If you are not going to accept the legal requirements of the state, good bye,” he added.

Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan walked out of a televised meeting with Nikol Pashinyan, denouncing the opposition’s “blackmail”.
Protest leader Nikol Pashinyan is detained by police shortly after a televised meeting with Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan who stormed out after three minutes, claiming he was being blackmailed to resign.