[20180509]IN10896_亚美尼亚的公民动乱.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Civic Upheaval in Armenia name redacted Analyst in European Affairs May 9, 2018 After two weeks of political upheaval, Armenia has a new prime minister, Nikol Pashinian, a former opposition leader, parliamentary deputy, and journalist. Many observers believe this development has the potential to transform politics in Armenia, a small, landlocked Russian ally in the South Caucasus that also has enjoyed a history of U.S. and European support. A Changing Political Landscape On April 23, 2018, Serzh Sargsyan, Armenias president from 2008 to early April 2018, unexpectedly resigned from his new post as prime minister amid growing protests. The next week, the ruling center-right Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) rejected protest leader Pashinians candidacy as prime minister. This led to a mass general strike, after which the RPA agreed to support Pashinian. In a second parliamentary vote on May 8, the RPA agreed to have several of its deputies support Pashinians candidacy. It stressed, however, that the RPA would remain in the majority and that Pashinian would lead a minority government. Pashinian is a leader o