Pogroms in Yerevan remind about provocations during 2008 protests

The organizers of protests against Serzh Sargsyan have chosen a strategy of nonviolent struggle, taking into account the events of March 2008, when provocations led to casualties, and the lessons of the "Sasna Tsrer" armed revolt in 2016.

On April 16, demonstrators clashed with police in Yerevan; and 46 people were injured. At night on April 18, a group of young people organized a pogrom; also, unidentified people damaged several cars. The police accused the opposition of vandalism; however, Nikol Pashinyan, the protesters' leader, has disowned pogroms.

Mr Pashinyan has warned his supporters against using violence.

In 2008, eyewitnesses told the "Caucasian Knot" that pogroms in streets of Yerevan were staged by the people who were in collusion with the authorities.

Armen Martirosyan, the Chairman of the "Heritage" Party, has reminded that before March 1, 2008, oppositional rallies were held peacefully, but then many provocateurs appeared among the protesters, who were commanded by the authorities.

Boris Navasardyan, the head of the Yerevan Press Club, has noted that the events of March 1-2, 2008, changed the society's attitude to mass actions. Realizing that the authorities will take any force measures, people became apathetic to protests.