The Velvet Revolution of 2018

86. The Origins of the Protests

In April 2018, large demonstrations erupted across Armenia.

The protests were triggered by Serzh Sargsyan's move to become prime minister after completing two presidential terms.

Opponents viewed the move as an attempt to preserve political power despite earlier expectations of leadership change.

Nikol Pashinyan, an opposition politician and former journalist, became the principal public leader of the protest movement.

Demonstrators demanded Sargsyan's resignation and broader political reform.

87. The Resignation of Serzh Sargsyan

On April 23, 2018, Serzh Sargsyan resigned as prime minister.

His resignation followed sustained mass demonstrations, strikes, road blockades, and other forms of civil resistance.

The movement became known as the Velvet Revolution.

It was notable for the scale of public participation and the relatively limited use of violence during the transfer of political authority.

On May 8, 2018, Armenia's National Assembly elected Nikol Pashinyan prime minister.

88. The Political Significance of the Velvet Revolution

The Velvet Revolution represented a major development in Armenia's democratic history.

It demonstrated that sustained public mobilization could produce a change of government without a military coup or full-scale civil conflict.

The new government promised anti-corruption measures, judicial reform, greater transparency, and more accountable administration.

However, the revolution did not eliminate Armenia's structural challenges.

The country continued to face security threats, economic inequality, institutional weaknesses, and the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The revolution also intensified political competition between supporters of the new government and established political groups.