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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan should immediately step down from office and bear criminal liability after a Russia-brokered deal to hand over areas of Artsakh to Azerbaijan, human rights activist Larisa Alaverdyan said at a rally at Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Monday.

She also promised to defend Nikol Pashinyan as an arrested person, because she always defends the rights of those arrested and serving prison terms.

"I appeal to all the supporters of Nikol Pashinyan, save your idol! What do you want to get, bigger threats and dangers? He had better step down immediately and accept his share of responsibility, which should be clearly measured by the Criminal Code,” she said.

Alaverdyan stated the premier should resign first of all due to the outcome of the war with Azerbaijan. She also denounced Pashinyan’s Facebook post about sorting out his “whimpering” detractors, urging protesters not to take offence at the remarks of an “undignified man”.

She called for continued public pressure.

“Never think that our army or people have lost! It’s the political leadership that has surrendered [the lands]. Azerbaijan did not win, it accepted that surrender. Never think that Shushi is not ours! Shushi cannot be Azerbaijani, it has been and remains Armenian, being under the feet of the enemy today.

“The fact that he refuses to leave speaks of his low human qualities. We must have high qualities and be the owner of our country, " Alaverdyan stated.