Photo: Nikol Pashinyan / Facebook

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.