MOSCOW, May 4. /TASS/. Protesters in Armenia demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are unlikely to go to great lengths. The protests will have no significant effect, because the authorities and the opposition will find a point of agreement, the board chairman of the Foundation of Support and Development of the Discussion Club Valdai, Andrey Bystritsky, told TASS.
He explained that the current conflict stemmed from internal disputes, "rather old and complex ones."
"I hope that nothing will come of it and they will not go to great lengths. The way I see it, they (the opposition and the authorities) will come to terms, because this situation is very risky both for Armenia and its neighbors," he stressed.
Bystritsky drew attention to the rather risky way in which the opposition was acting.
"The reason why remains unclear for now," he said.
It should not be ruled out that the situation is a result of some external influences, he remarked.
"Of course, there are attempts to meddle from outside. Both the European Union and the neighbors in the region have been trying to intervene," he said. Bystritsky suspects that the European Union’s lucrative promises may have encouraged the Armenian opposition. "The EU is keen to play some role in this conflict without having the slightest chance to intervene in earnest," he said.
"Generally speaking, this is a very complex and controversial situation and a great challenge to the current Armenian leadership, too. But I hope that nothing serious will happen. The standoff will be maintained at the previous level. It is to be hoped tensions will not overflow," he concluded.
Opposition supporters demanding the prime minister’s resignation have blocked France Square in Yerevan since Sunday evening. Demonstrators have built barricades using street benches and garbage containers. Acts of disobedience and attempts to block streets have continued in Yerevan and Armenia’s regions since Monday morning.