In April 2018, following the election of Serzh Sargsyan as Prime Minister of Armenia, large crowds took to the streets in an unprecedented, self-organized, decentralized and grassroots movement, which objected both the newly elected Prime Minister and the ruling power in general. After several weeks of mass protests, peaceful civil disobedience and county-wide strikes, the protesters succeeded in obtaining the resignation of Serzh Sargsyan and the election of the opposition leader as the new Prime Minister. The protests were significant with their commitment to non-violence and inclusiveness, as well as explicitly acknowledging women's participation in the protests as equal citizens. While rapid political transformations continue, the peaceful large-scale organizing has triggered a social transformation on both individual and collective levels, bridging different groups and identities. This talk addresses the first-hand experiences of the recent protests in Armenia, their significance and the possible transformations they bring both to the Armenian society and the prospects of building peace in the wider region.

Date: May 11, Friday 

Time: 18:30

Venue: Hrant Dink Foundation, Havak Hall 

Moderator

Dr. Pınar Sayan, Turkey Director, Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation, Asst. Prof. at Beykoz University

Speakers

Maria Karapetyan, Development Director, Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation

Dr. Philip Gamaghelyan, Director of Programs, Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation, Lecturer at Georgetown University

*The language of the panel will be in English