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Armenian President Armen Sarkissian - Sputnik International

Live Updates: Armenian Military Supports Chief of Staff's Demand for Pashinyan's Resignation

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YEREVAN (Sputnik) - Armenian President Armen Sarkissian challenged the law 'On military service and the status of servicemen' in light of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's initiative to dismiss General Staff Chief Onik Gasparyan, the presidential press service said on Wednesday.

"The president of the republic appealed to the Constitutional Court to determine whether the law 'On military service and the status of servicemen' is consistent with the constitution. The appeal is motivated by problems in the legislative enforcement practices sphere, which were trusted into the spotlight as a result of the prime minister's initiative to dismiss ... Gasparyan, and consequent constitutional and legal processes", the statement read.

In this photo provided by the Armenian Prime Minister Press Service via PAN Photo, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addresses the nation in Yerevan, Armenia, 27 October 2020. - Sputnik International, 1920, 25.02.2021
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Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan Accuses Military of Attempted Coup After Demand to Leave Post
Rulings of the Constitutional Court may have a significant impact on previously adopted decisions and further processes related to the interpretation and application of this law, Sarkissian's press service went on to say.

"The president hopes that a quick decision [of the Constitutional Court] will provide legal certainty and will contribute to settling the crisis", the statement read on.

 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said earlier in the day that Gasparyan was considered dismissed starting from 10 March.

"Taking into account the fact that the president of the Republic did not sign the draft decree that was submitted by the prime minister within the timeframe established by the law 'On military service and the status of servicemen' and did not appeal to the Constitutional Court, .... the chief of the general staff of Armenia's armed forces, Onik Gasparyan, is relieved from office starting from March 10 by the force of law", Pashinyan said in a statement, released by the cabinet.

Sarkissian had earlier refused to sign a decree on Gasparyan's dismissal.

A political crisis erupted in Yerevan after the deputy chief of the general staff mocked Pashinyan's controversial comment about the alleged failure of Russian-supplied Iskander missiles during the latest escalation of the decades-long conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. This triggered a series of military dismissals. The armed forces issued a statement demanding the resignation of Pashinyan himself, the prime minister regarded this as an attempted coup and called on his supporters to take to the streets.

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14:11 GMT 10.03.2021

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has received the prime minister's request to appoint Artak Davtyan as the new general staff chief and has three days to provide an answer, presidential aide Asmik Petrosyan told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"The president has received a petition to appoint Davtyan. Three days will be given to the president to express his position", Petrosyan said.

Earlier in the day, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a request to the president to appoint Davtyan as the new general staff chief following the dismissal of previous chief Onik Gasparyan amid a confrontation between the government and the military.

Davtyan served as the chief of the general staff from 2018-2020. From July-November 2020, he was the head of the Republican committee on military industry.

10:07 GMT 10.03.2021

The Armenian Parliament's Chief of Staff, Secretary General, Tigran Galstyan has submitted his resignation to work in a private company, the legislature's press service said on Wednesday.

"The National Assembly's Chief of Staff, Secretary General, Tigran Galstyan, has filed his resignation from the office", the press service wrote on the parliament's website.

The press service added that Galstyan planned to continue his career in the private sector.

According to Galstyan's account on Linkedin business platform, prior to his service in the parliament, he received his Ph.D. degree in the Management Information Systems from the Yerevan State University and worked over 15 years in Yerevan-based IMEX GROUP company that specialised in the import of construction materials and heating system to Armenia.

10:04 GMT 10.03.2021

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent a request to President Armen Sarkissian to appoint Artak Davtyan as the new Chief of General Staff, the prime minister's spokesman, Mane Gevorgyan, has said.

"Pashinyan presented to the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian a request to appoint Artak Davtyan as the Chief of General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces", Gevorgyan told the state agency, Armenpress.

Davtyan served as the Chief of the Armenian General Staff from 2018-2020. From July-November 2020, he was the head of the Republican committee on military industry. Davtyan's possible appointment is presented amid the confrontation between Pashinyan and the General Staff.

09:56 GMT 10.03.2021
09:54 GMT 10.03.2021

Armenian General Staff Chief Onik Gasparyan pledged on Wednesday he would continue service in a different status, after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced his dismissal.

Earlier in the day, Pashinyan said Gasparyan was considered dismissed starting on 10 March, as President Armen Sarkissian failed to sign the draft decree on his resignation and to challenge the decision in the Constitutional Court.

"Both the statement [by Pashinyan] and the entire process of my dismissal as the general staff chief are anti-constitutional. This proves once again that the crisis can only be settled if the prime minister steps down and early parliamentary elections are held", Gasparyan said in a statement, released by general staff spokesman Samvel Asatryan.

Gasparyan announced he had filed an appeal with the Administrative Court in order to ensure the rule of law and the constitution.

"I will continue my service to the motherland and the Armenian people in a different status", Gasparyan continued.

He called on soldiers and officers to continue their "devoted service to the motherland and the people for the sake of developing the armed forces, and strengthening Armenia and Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh Republic]."

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