Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a statement saying:
“I consider the statement of the General Staff an attempt of a military coup. I am inviting all our supporters to the Republic Square right now. I will address the public live in the near future.”
Samvel Asatryan, Chief of the Information Department of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, distributed the statement of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, which states:
“The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia expresses its resolute protest against the dismissal of the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia for short-sighted reasons, which was carried out without taking into account the national and state interests of the Republic of Armenia. In such difficult conditions for the country, such a decision is an anti-state and irresponsible step.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the government, are no longer able to make adequate decisions in this critical situation for the Armenian people.
For a long time, the RA Armed Forces patiently tolerated the “attacks” aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces by the current government, but everything has its limits.
The RA Armed Forces has fulfilled its duty with honor, to fight with its people against the enemy.
Inefficient governance of the current authorities and serious mistakes in foreign policy have brought the country to the brink of collapse.
Due to the current situation, the RA Armed Forces demand the resignation of the RA Prime Minister and the Government, at the same time warning to refrain from using force against the people whose children died defending the Homeland and Artsakh.
The army has always been with the people, as the people have been with the army.
The statement was signed by a group of high ranking military officials
Earlier we reported that by the 24 February decree of President Armen Sargsyan, Tiran Khachatryan was relieved of the post of First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.