Armenia's president appoints Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister

BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 2. Armenian President
Vahagn Khachaturyan has appointed Civil Contract party leader Nikol
Pashinyan as the country's prime minister.

The relevant decree was published on the official website of the
Armenian president.

"Based on Part 1 of Article 149 of the Constitution, appoint
Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister," the decree reads.

Earlier in the day, ahead of the first session of the newly
elected parliament, Pashinyan signed a decision on the resignation
of the outgoing government. The document was then submitted to
President Khachaturyan for signature.

"Under Article 158 of the Constitution, the government resigns
on the day of the first session of the newly elected National
Assembly," Pashinyan said in a video message.

According to the official results of the parliamentary elections
held on June 7, Pashinyan's ruling Civil Contract party won 49.7456
percent of the vote. The Strong Armenia bloc, led by businessman
Samvel Karapetyan, received 23.2710 percent, while the Armenia bloc
headed by former President Robert Kocharyan secured 9.9231
percent.