The protest called ”My Step” was set off by Armenian political opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan on 31 March from the cultural capital of Armenia: Gyumri. From the very beginning there were few people next to the leader mainly journalists. The protests became intense from 13 April when the MP and ex-journalist Mr. Pashinyan reached the capital Yerevan. Tens of thousands people joined the protest having one thing in mind ”We must struggle for our better future peacefully and with love…” Authorities and not only didn’t take the protests seriously thinking that after prime minister’s elections the mass would split up. But they got wrong! The numbers were growing hour by hour, day by day. Can you imagine the 17-year-old school student skipping class to attend two weeks of rallies, because he wants access to a better education; the villagers in remote areas who feel that their voices are finally being heard; and the 12-year-old children blocking roads in an act of nationwide civil disobedience without any fear to be attacked. They demanded the ruling prime minister and Republican Party to resign. And under the pressure, especially when soldiers joined the rallies carried out by more than 200.000 people in the capital and hundreds of thousands in all around the country, the first who gave up was the Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan admitting “I was wrong”.
The second stage of the protests was even greater when protesters demanded the national Assembly to select their beloved candidate as a Prime Minister. Can you believe that even tourists joined tha mass disobedience? There were even cases when they blocked the streets as a way of protests together with the locals. One of the funniest moments was when Chinise tourists blocked Tumanyan street and chanted ”Nikol Prime Minister”. Our velvet rEVOLution was a kind of ”festival” where everybody was happily dancing, singing, playing outside and chanting ”Nikol is my Prime Minister…”
After unfair elections just a day later (02.05.18) the whole nation made the ruling party change its opinion and vote for our beloved candidate Pashinyan on 08.05.18. Our nation proved to the world that union and love can break even the strongest chains. We are powerful together walking hand in hand. The first ever revolution ended up with no victims or attacks. We, though taking a tiny part on the world map, made the Velvet Revolution true. WE WO N.
This hasn’t just been a demonstration, this was a great energy of love and peace manifested by our lovely people. No attacks, no violence, no blood shed… just love and mutual respect have been the base of rallies. Even tourists joined the peaceful meetings on the streets witnessing historical turnrounds of Armenian Velvet Revolution. Love and respect are in the air pouring from each individual spreading throughout the country and beyond…
On 08.05.18 the final elections took place and Pashinyan was elected as a Prime Minister. All people wore white T-shirts and shirts to show the pureness and love of their struggle and to celebrate the victory and election of the Prime Minister. As during all the previous days, this time as well tourists joined the national celebrations.
All these events have proved one thing that Armenia is one of the safest countries in the world where even revolutions are turning into fun and joy!
