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Opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan, the leader of the "My Step" initiative demanding Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation, has reacted to the recent statement issued by Acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan over cancelling today’s planned talks, meantime announcing a new round of public protests against the ruling Republican Party of Armenia’s “further rule”.

“It is obvious that the Republican Party and Acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan think that the Armenian people are totally satisfied with Serzh Sargsyan's resignation, and now it is time to consider plans for the RPA’s reproduction, i.e. ensuring RPA’s further rule,” he said in a video message live-streamed on Facebook.

“I think we must clearly express our position in this situation and record that such a scenario and development of events can no way be part of our revolutionary plans and programs.”

The opposition leader commented on the acting PM’s statement to appeal to Armenia’s president to launch meetings, including on holding snap parliamentary elections.

“They want to hold elections in such conditions when acting prime minister is from the RPA,” Pashinyan said, voicing doubts about the transparency of those elections.

He also added they can actively boycott those elections by blocking polling stations, and thus preventing the ruling party from “reproduction”. 

“I think the revolution voiced a clear message that the Republican Party can in no way have power in Armenia any longer. Serzh Sargsyan has stepped down, but the RPA deputies must also be stripped of power to prevent Serzh Sargsyan from running the country behind the scenes through the Republicans,” he stressed.

“We are calling for continuation of civil disobedience campaign, and I think we need to take one more step to complete the ‘velvet revolution’.”

Pashinyan voiced calls for new massive public protests, including student strikes and street blocking, adding that he will be in the Republic Square in capital Yerevan at 11 am Yerevan time today.

Acting PM Karen Karapetyan issued a statement on Tuesday over cancelling the scheduled talks with Pashinyan on Wednesday, claiming the opposition MP “has unilaterally set forth new demands, particularly as regards the format, agenda and media coverage of the meeting”.

“He proposed a list of people to attend the talks on our side, and announced that he would negotiate exclusively on his own agenda. This means he does not want to enter into negotiations or engage a dialogue, but solely to voice his own position and agenda, up to naming negotiators for us. Having some experience in negotiations, I can say that I have never heard of talks in such a format.

“Concerned about the current situation, in my capacity of head of the executive power, who is responsible for ensuring a normal rhythm in the country, I appeal to the President of the Republic of Armenia to organize a meeting in his preferred format with a wide spectrum of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary political forces to discuss the current political situation and find ways of dealing with it, up to the holding of extraordinary parliamentary elections,” reads the statement.

Serzh Sargsyan stepped down as prime minister on Monday, following 11 days of mass protests.