Armenia: President sends proposal to sack Gasparyan back to Pashinyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has sent the proposal to sack the chief of Army General Staff, Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan back to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, his office said Saturday, February 27.

Under the country's Constitution, the Prime Minister has five days to submit justifications for his proposal.

A statement from Sarkissian said the draft decree was studied by the Office of the President in detail, with the involvement of leading lawyers and independent experts.

"Based on the opinion of the lawyers and experts, it can be concluded that the draft decree fundamentally contradicts the Constitution," the statement reads.

"The President of the Republic pursues one goal, i.e. to protect the country from the threats to the constitutional order and security, to ensure the stability of the country, the normal operation of the armed forces."

Armenia is facing a serious political crisis after the country's top military brass demanded Pashinyan's resignation. The PM, however claimed, however, that he had already dismissed the chief of the Army General Staff. The parliamentary opposition has already weighed in on the matter, urging against bloodshed and calling for a peaceful transition of power.