A defiant Nikol Pashinyan has called for a general strike in Armenia starting on 2 May, when addressing thousands of supporters after parliament failed to elect him as prime minister, as political crisis in Armenia deepens
"The security architecture in the South Caucasus will remain volatile and the three countries need to be very cautious in their foreign policy choices", argues Benyamin Poghosyan in this op-ed
The big question will be whether the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, which has been rattled by the street protests, and which saw its leader resigning as prime minister last week, will endorse Pashinyan too, even if reluctantly.
The show of strength confirmed that Pashinyan's movement was not limited to the capital Yerevan, but stretched to the cities, towns and villages throughout the country.
Planned talks between government and protestors fail to materialise, but talks continue with president Sarkissian. Parliament will meet on 1 May to elect a new prime minister.
Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream party, the political movement that has led Georgia since 2012, will return to the centre-stage of Georgian politics, assuming the role of party chairman. The move is expected to take place at the party congress on in May.
It is likely that opposition parties will rally around one of the leaders of the protest movement, although it is understood that apart from the candidacy of Nikol Pashinyan other options are being considered.