March 2, 2021 - 16:27 AMT
Armenia: President seeks top court clarification on military service law

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian decided to not sign a draft decree on the dismissal of the Chief of Army General Staff, Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan, his office said in a statement on Tuesday, March 2.

Gasparyan, however, will be relieved of his post nonetheless, as the President did not sent the draft decree to the Constitutional Court either, thus paving the way for his dismissal.

Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent the draft decision back and forth several times in the past week, amid turmoil following the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.

At the same time, the President's office said, Sarkissian will file an application with the Constitutional Court to determine whether the law "On Military Service and Status of Military Servant" from November 15, 2017 complies with the Armenian Constitution.

"True to his commitment, the President of the Republic will continue taking steps aimed at the further stabilization of the situation, calling on everyone to use the President's institute as a platform for negotiating and finding a comprehensive solution to all existing problems," the statement said.

Armenia is facing a serious political crisis after the country's top military brass demanded Pashinyan's resignation. The PM, claimed, however, that he had already dismissed the chief of the Army General Staff.