February 25, 2021 - 18:07 AMT
Defense Ministry cautions against dragging "apolitical" army into politics

The Armenian Defense Ministry published a statement Thursday, February 25, maintaining that the army is an apolitical force, hours after the General Staff of the Armed Forces demanded that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resign.

"The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia are defending the borders of our homeland and ensuring its security. The army is an apolitical body, and any attempt to drag the armed forces into political processes is unacceptable," the statement reads.

Any such attempt threatens the stability and security of Armenia, the Defense Ministry said pledging action if necessary.

The country is facing a serious political crisis after the top military brass demanded Pashinyan's resignation. The PM, however, claims 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.