Armenian Leader Faces Mounting Dissent After Ceding Territory to Azerbaijan

Embattled prime minister says ‘painful’ concessions are needed to foster lasting peace in the region.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan meets with his supporters gathered on Republic Square in downtown Yerevan on Feb. 25, 2021. Karen Minassyan/AFP via Getty Images

Armenia is facing mounting public dissent over its recent decision to cede territory to neighboring Azerbaijan, its longstanding rival in the South Caucasus region.

On May 27, thousands protested in the capital Yerevan to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, whom they blame for the territorial concessions.