There is a very interesting article on Armenia in the RFE/RL Features section. It reflects on the impact of the attempted coup in 1999 when gunmen forced their way into the legislature and opened fire, killing, among others, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian. The argument in the article is that the events directly contributed to the collapse of democracy by encouraging power to be concentrated in the hands of President Robert Kocharian.

In terms of background, there is a useful piece by Stephan Astourian in Caucasus and Central Asia Newsletter (Spring 2000). There is also material on the trial of the gunmen in Eurasia Insight.