2003–2004 Armenian protests

Armenian democracy movements

2003-2004 Armenian protests

Date

March 2003 – April 2004

Location

Yerevan, Armenia

Caused by

alleged electoral fraud during the 2003 presidential election

Goals

resignation of President Robert Kocharyan
new general elections

Methods

demonstrations

Resulted in

Protests suppressed by force

Parties

Opposition parties

People's Party
National Unity
National Democratic Union
Unified Armenians
Democratic Party

Armenian government

Police

Lead figures

Stepan Demirchyan
Artashes Geghamyan
Vazgen Manukyan
Ruben Avagyan
Aram Sargsyan

Robert Kocharyan (President)
Andranik Margaryan (PM)
Artur Baghdasaryan (Parliament Speaker)
Hayk Harutyunyan (Police Chief)

Number

500+ (9 April 2004)
10,000+ (12 April 2004)

A series of mass protests were held in Armenia following the 2003 presidential election, led by the former presidential candidate Stepan Demirchyan.

Background

Protests

April 12, 2004

Opposition candidate Stepan Demirchyan, who was the official runner-up of that election, was defeated by Robert Kocharyan in the second round. Demirchyan started a protest demanding authority retirement in the Freedom Square, he later started a rally to Presidential Palace, but police blocked the road from the front of National Assembly, after this protesters announced a sit-in, later police attacked protesters to disperse the sit-in.^[1]^[2]

References

^ «2004 –ի ապրիլի 12 –ը մարտի 1 ի նախերգանքն էր» (տեսանյութ)
^ PARTICIPANTS OF OPPOSITION MEETING IN YEREVAN MADE FOR STATE HEAD'S RESIDENCE TO DEMAND AUTHORITY RETIREMENT