YEREVAN (Ruptly) — Thousands of people gathered in the centre of Yerevan in front of the Opera Theatre, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pahinyan on Saturday. Later, the crowd of protesters headed towards the residence of the Armenian leader.

Some opposition leaders attended the protest.

Former Prime Minister of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan stated:

We created an independent state. With all its weaknesses, but a state nonetheless. We won the war. Army of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh used to be considered as the strongest in the region. We were increasing our influence on the international arena. And now, we have gathered on the same square after 30 years with offended dignity, with significant human and territorial losses, and considering everything that we had done for Artsakh is now lost. But Armenia is in danger too. There is a threat to existence of Armenia since Azerbaijan decided to enter its territory crossing the border. The three-party deal in form of a statement, we will never accept this statement.

The representative of the Supreme Council of the party Dashnaktsutyun Ishkhan Saghatelyan announced the creation of pan-Armenian non-partisan “Movement for the Motherland Saving” the main goals of which will be the rescue of the Motherland and resignation of Nikol Pashinyan. His speech was strongly supported by the protesting crowd.

Opposition representatives required Pashinyan to desert his post by December 8 midday, threatening to kick off more protests across the country.

On Thursday, 17 Armenian opposition parties announced their decision to nominate former Prime Minister Vazgen Manukyan to replace Nikol Pashinyan as head of the government. As the leader of the “Motherland” party, Artur Avanesyan announced that one more rally will be held in Yerevan on December 5, during which, Manukyan will have the chance to present his ideas.

Following more than six weeks of hostilities, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a Russian-brokered deal to end the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 9^th. Under the terms of the deal, 1,960 Russian peacekeepers will be deployed in the region to monitor the ceasefire.