Move follows standoff in capital Yerevan between police and armed men, and could pave way for a coalition government

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The prime minister of Armenia has announced his resignation following weeks of civil unrest and a sharp economic downturn. Armenian prime minister resigns, says country needs new approach

YEREVAN, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan tendered his resignation at a government meeting on Thursday, saying the country needed fresh policies, after an economic slowdown this year and outbreaks of violence. Last month, Armenia’s president, Serzh Sargsyan, promised to create a government of national accord after a two-week standoff at a police compound in the capital, Yerevan, which left two police officers dead and shook the nation. Several dozen armed men stormed the building and demanded the release of Zhirair Sefilyan, the leader of the New Armenia Public Salvation Front opposition group, who was arrested in June on suspicion of preparing to seize government buildings and telecoms facilities in Yerevan. The standoff triggered rallies in support of the gunmen and clashes with police in what appeared to be the biggest political crisis in this country in years. The government has also faced political challenges, including a flare-up of violence in Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region in April between Armenian-backed separatists and Azeri forces. It was not clear from Prime Minister Ovik Abramyan's statement on Thursday who will lead the new government. Local media reported that Abrahamyan might be replaced by 53-year-old technocrat Karen Karapetyan, the former head of national gas distributing company ArmRosGazprom and later Yerevan mayor.
Hovik Abrahamyan resigns as Prime Minister of Armenia citing civil unrest and a sharp economic downturn.