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| Armenia Prime Minister resigns after violent clashes between anti-government protesters and police | Armenia Prime Minister resigns after violent clashes between anti-government protesters and police |
| (3 days later) | |
| The Prime Minister of Armenia has announced his resignation following months of protests and clashes at a police station in the country's capital. | The Prime Minister of Armenia has announced his resignation following months of protests and clashes at a police station in the country's capital. |
| Hovik Abrahamyan said he was stepping down to allow Armenian “society and government to unite in their efforts”. | Hovik Abrahamyan said he was stepping down to allow Armenian “society and government to unite in their efforts”. |
| “We need a new beginning,” he added. “That is why I have decided to resign and to give our President an opportunity to form a new government. | “We need a new beginning,” he added. “That is why I have decided to resign and to give our President an opportunity to form a new government. |
| “We must think about everyone’s success and give a chance to a new government.” | “We must think about everyone’s success and give a chance to a new government.” |
| Rumours of Mr Abrahamyan’s resignation had been circulating since local reports claimed he was to be replaced by Karen Karapetyan, the former mayor of Armenia’s capital and a Gazprom executive, on Wednesday. | Rumours of Mr Abrahamyan’s resignation had been circulating since local reports claimed he was to be replaced by Karen Karapetyan, the former mayor of Armenia’s capital and a Gazprom executive, on Wednesday. |
| President Serge Sarkisian called for a “government of national accord” in August, following months of protests and violence culminating in a stand-off that killed two police officers earlier this year. | President Serge Sarkisian called for a “government of national accord” in August, following months of protests and violence culminating in a stand-off that killed two police officers earlier this year. |
| Armed men captured the police compound in Yerevan in July, demanding freedom for opposition leader Jirair Sefilian and the removal of Mr Abrahamyan’s government. | Armed men captured the police compound in Yerevan in July, demanding freedom for opposition leader Jirair Sefilian and the removal of Mr Abrahamyan’s government. |
| The group, nicknamed the Daredevils of Sassoun, held several police officers and medics as hostages before eventually releasing them and surrendering after two weeks. | The group, nicknamed the Daredevils of Sassoun, held several police officers and medics as hostages before eventually releasing them and surrendering after two weeks. |
| This year was the fourth summer of mass protests in Yerevan, with demands for regime change overtaking previous issues of electricity bills, pension reform and public transport fare increases. | This year was the fourth summer of mass protests in Yerevan, with demands for regime change overtaking previous issues of electricity bills, pension reform and public transport fare increases. |
| Human Rights Watch accused police of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in July, using stun grenades and batons, as well as assaulting journalists. | Human Rights Watch accused police of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in July, using stun grenades and batons, as well as assaulting journalists. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Armenia depends heavily on aid and investment from Russia, whose economic downturn has hit exports and much-needed remittances from Armenians working there. | Armenia depends heavily on aid and investment from Russia, whose economic downturn has hit exports and much-needed remittances from Armenians working there. |
| Mr Abrahamyan took office in April 2014 as the leader of the ruling Republican Party. | Mr Abrahamyan took office in April 2014 as the leader of the ruling Republican Party. |
| According to his official biography, he is married with three children and eight grandchildren, and served in the former Soviet Army and worked at a brandy factory before entering politics in the 1990s. | According to his official biography, he is married with three children and eight grandchildren, and served in the former Soviet Army and worked at a brandy factory before entering politics in the 1990s. |
| Parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2017, with Mr Sarkisian’s term as President to end the following year. | Parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2017, with Mr Sarkisian’s term as President to end the following year. |