Armenia

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was formally nominated for the post of prime minister by his supporters, inching closer to victory after two weeks of protests that transformed the country's political landscape.

Armenia's ruling party has said that it will not put up a candidate for prime minister in a bid to ease tensions after more than two weeks of street protests against the so-called ruling elite.

Armenia's acting head of government Karen Karapetyan on April 27 rebuffed talks proposed by opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, further escalating tensions after two weeks of protests.

Armenia's prime minister, Serzh Sargsyan, has said he will resign after days of large street protests against him, according to a statement posted on his website.

"The street movement is against my tenure. I am fulfilling your demand," the statement said.

Serzh Sargsyan, the newly appointed prime minister of Armenia, said on April 23 he would resign his post after protests against him.

Armenia's political turmoil deepened yesterday with the detention of anti­government protest leader Nikol Pashinyan, shortly after Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan stormed out of talks with him on the tenth day of mass rallies against his rule.

Police in the Armenian capital Yerevan detained dozens of anti-government demonstrators on April 19 - the seventh day of large-scale protests against ex-president Serzh Sargsyan's election as prime minister.

Ambassador of Armenia to Romania Sergey Minasyan states in an interview granted to AGERPRES that, in his opinion, the Armenian community in Romania enjoys a "privileged position" and is integrated within the society, the Romanian people's tolerance can set "a good example for many other countries."

Armenia's former president Serzh Sargsyan was elected prime minister on April 17 in a move the opposition says is designed to extend his chokehold on power despite protests in the impoverished country.

YEREVAN -- Demonstrators and Armenian riot police clashed after lawmakers nominated Serzh Sarkisian to be the country's next prime minister amid a wave of protests accusing the longtime former president of a power grab.