Armenia's prime minister has resigned after mass protests at his appointment following 10 years as president.
Our Senior News Correspondent David Bowden spoke to people celebrating in the capital Yerevan about their hopes for the country's future.
It's as if a huge weight has been lifted from their shoulders in the warm spring sunshine in Yerevan's Republic Square.
The young demonstrators, who the day before had brought down their prime minister and his government, were out in force to clean up after Monday night's victory celebrations.
One by one, in broken English, they explained why they had taken to the streets and what the new Armenia must look like.
Vahe, a 21-year-old student, told me it was a "new beginning" for his country, where true democracy would replace the autocracy of the past decade or so under Serzh Sargsyan.
Alexandra, another student protester, said she sat and cried for two hours when she heard their demonstrations had succeeded and Mr Sargsyan had stepped down.
This "revolution" achieved its goal, largely because of the mobilisation of thousands of young activists.
But it was not just the youth of Armenia that claimed victory.
Sokrat, a sprightly 81-year-old, kissed my hand and beamed with delight as he explained through a translator that, before today, he had spent most of his life living as a prisoner in his own country.
Young and old were basking in the warm glow of expectation and hope. All this on the most poignant day in the Armenian calendar.
April the 24th is Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, a public holiday to commemorate the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians by the Turks a century ago.
Simultaneously remembering the horrors of the past and staring optimistically into a new future. This truly is a red letter day for Armenia and her people.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét