Armenia

===21st century===
In the 21st century, Armenia faces many hardships. It has made a full switch to a [[market economy]]. One study ranks it the 50th most "economically free" nation in the world, {{As of|2023|lc=y}}.<ref name="economic-index">{{cite web|url=https://heritage.org/index/country/armenia|title=Heritage Index of Economic Freedom|publisher=[[The Heritage Foundation]]|access-date=22 June 2023|archive-date=29 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929071128/https://www.heritage.org/index/country/armenia|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its relations with Europe, the [[Arab League]], and the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] have allowed Armenia to increase trade.<ref name="EPP Group">{{cite web|url=http://eppgroup.eu/press-release/Georgia-and-Armenia%3A-EU-reaches-trade-deal|title=EU negotiations with Armenia and Georgia on Free Trade Agreements successfully concluded|publisher=EPP Group|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120092829/http://www.eppgroup.eu/press-release/Georgia-and-Armenia:-EU-reaches-trade-deal|archive-date=20 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Arka news agency">{{cite web|url=http://arka.am/en/news/interview/armenia_will_significantly_increase_its_revenues_by_reinforcing_its_role_of_a_transit_country_betwee/|title=Armenia will significantly increase its revenues by reinforcing its role of a transit country between Europe, CIS and Middle East|date=28 March 2013 |publisher=Arka News Agency|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216041554/http://arka.am/en/news/interview/armenia_will_significantly_increase_its_revenues_by_reinforcing_its_role_of_a_transit_country_betwee/|archive-date=16 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Gas, oil, and other supplies come through two vital routes: Iran and Georgia. {{as of|2016}}, Armenia maintained cordial relations with both countries.<ref name="European Dialogue">{{cite web|url=http://eurodialogue.eu/676|title=Europe Could Draw Gas Through Iran–Armenia Pipeline|publisher=European dialogue|access-date=10 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217042353/http://eurodialogue.eu/676|archive-date=17 February 2016}}</ref>{{update after|2020}}

The [[2018 Armenian revolution|2018 Armenian Revolution]] was a series of anti-government protests in Armenia from April to May 2018 staged by various political and civil groups led by a member of the Armenian parliament — [[Nikol Pashinyan]] (head of the [[Civil Contract (Armenia)|Civil Contract]] party). Protests and marches took place initially in response to [[Serzh Sargsyan|Serzh Sargsyan's]] third consecutive term as President of Armenia and later against the [[Republican Party of Armenia|Republican Party]] controlled government in general. Pashinyan declared the movement, which led to Sargsyan's resignation, a "[[velvet revolution]]".<ref>{{cite news|title="Velvet Revolution" Takes Armenia into the Unknown|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/armenia/velvet-revolution-takes-armenia-unknown|publisher=[[Crisis Group]]|date=20 November 2020}}</ref>

In March 2018, the Armenian parliament elected [[Armen Sarkissian]] as the new President of Armenia. The controversial constitutional reform to reduce presidential power was implemented, while the authority of the prime minister was strengthened.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/armenia-armen-sarkissian-elected-into-new-less-powerful-presidential-role/a-42797330|title = Armenia: Armen Sarkissian elected into new, less powerful presidential role &#124; DW &#124; 02.03.2018|website = [[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref> In May 2018, parliament elected opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as the new prime minister. His predecessor Serzh Sargsyan resigned two weeks earlier following [[2018 Armenian revolution|widespread anti-government demonstrations]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/5/8/armenia-nikol-pashinyan-elected-as-new-prime-minister|title=Pashinyan elected as Armenia's new prime minister|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

On 27 September 2020, a full-scale war erupted due to the unresolved [[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh goes on despite US mediation |url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-azerbaijan-armenia-41a103bcde14fa8b28968000d7992b84 |work=Associated Press |date=24 October 2020}}</ref> Both the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan reported military and civilian casualties.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fury and celebrations as Russia brokers peace deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh war |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-armenia-azerbaijan-war-fighting-peace-deal-b1720219.html |work=The Independent |date=11 November 2020}}</ref> The [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement|Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement]] to end the six-week [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war|war between Armenia and Azerbaijan]] was seen by many as Armenia's defeat and capitulation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Armenians vent fury at West after truce in bloody war in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/armenia-azerbaijan-nagorno-karabakh-truce-1.5796470 |work=CBC News |date=11 November 2020}}</ref> The year-long [[2020–2021 Armenian protests|March of Dignity]] protests forced early elections.

On 20 June 2021, Pashinyan's Civil Contract party won an early parliamentary [[2021 Armenian parliamentary election|election]]. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was officially appointed to the post of prime minister by Armenia's President Armen Sarkissian.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nikol Pashinyan officially appointed Armenia's prime minister |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/02/nikol-pashinyan-officially-appointed-armenias-prime-minister-2339082.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=2 August 2021}}</ref> In January 2022, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian resigned from office, stating that the constitution no longer gives the president sufficient powers or influence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Armenian president resigns over lack of influence |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/23/armenian-president-armen-sarkissian-resigns |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref> On 3 March 2022, [[Vahagn Khachaturyan]] was elected as the fifth president of Armenia in the second round of parliamentary vote.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vahagn Khachaturyan elected new Armenian president |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/vahagn-khachaturyan-elected-new-armenian-president/2522507 |work=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> The next month [[2022 Armenian protests|yet more protests broke out]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Facing Mass Protests Calling For Him To Resign, Armenia's Prime Minister Is Running Out Of Options |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-pashinian-karabakh-options-protests/31837928.html |access-date=2022-05-07 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=7 May 2022 |language=en|last1=Wesolowsky |first1=Tony }}</ref>
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