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 statement issued by the leadership of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces on the morning of 25 February was not directed by anyone or was not made under the pressure of anyone. This is the clear conviction and position of the generals and officers, whose goal is one – to serve for the salvation of the homeland at this crucial moment.

“We once and again confirm our clear position.”

Today, on 25 February, the leadership of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, headed by Onik Gasparyan, demanded the resignation  the Prime Minister.

“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.

PM Nikol Pashinyan assessed the statement as an attempt at a military coup. He invited his supporters to the Republic Square to talk to them.

He noted that yesterday and today he made decisions to dismiss both the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and the Chief, Onik Gasparyan, which was followed by the statement of the General Staff.

“I describe what is happening as an attempt of a military coup. I have taken all the responsibility and I will answer the questions myself. We have reached a stage where, unfortunately, we cannot avoid asking questions to some of our high-ranking military men, because if we want the whole truth about the war to be known, we cannot avoid asking questions to some of our high-ranking military men, but some generals do not like, that we can ask them questions about some episodes. We need to know the answers to a number of questions, related to specific combat, military episodes, what were the connections between some high-ranking officers and some political circles and who were in contact with the army during the war, instead of saying, make your battles, urge, that the problem of power must be solved,” he said.