Something Tells Me Similar Events May Happen In Belarus Soon

Belarusians watched the events in Armenia with admiration, pain and anxiety.

Editor-in-Chief of Charter97.org Natallia Radzina commented upon the victory of the Armenian people in their 11-day protest action against Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan on her Facebook page.

"I am happy together with Armenians! I watched their struggle with admiration, pain and anxiety. I was so afraid that the Belarusian scenario of the year 2010 could repeat there. However, it didn't happen. And it's not just because their regime was milder, policemen were not such beasts and the people were more decisive. The time is different. Everything will be changing rapidly and something's telling me similar events may happen in Belarus soon," - she stressed.

In 2010, the Central Election Commission of Belarus illegally declared dictator Lukashenka "the winner" of the presidential "elections". The voting day was marked by a mass protest rally suppressed by police and internal forces.

On April 9, 2018, Armenia moved to a parliamentary form of government. Armen Sargsyan became the first president of the country elected in the parliament. Prior to that, the head of state in Armenia was elected in a popular vote. From 2008 to 2018, the President was Serzh Sargsyan.

On April 16, demonstrators launched an action of civil disobedience against the premiership of Sargsyan, who is also the head of the ruling party of Armenia.

On April 17, leader of the protests Nikol Pashinyan announced the beginning of the velvet revolution. On that day, Sargsyan was elected Prime Minister at a special meeting of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia.

On April 18, protesters against his appointment as prime minister seized his residence in Baghramyan Street in Yerevan, law-enforcers began to hold mass detentions.

On April 22, law-enforcers detained Pashinyan and two more deputies of the National Assembly. The European Union called on the authorities to release detained protesters who did not violate the law.

Today, April 23, Pashinyan and two other opposition members of the National Assembly were released. Sargsyan announced his resignation.