The coalition of 17 opposition parties calling itself the Homeland Salvation Movement on Tuesday, March 2 demanded an urgent meeting with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian.

The announcement came after Sarkissian decided to not sign a draft decree on the dismissal of the Chief of Army General Staff, Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan. The latter, however, will be relieved of his post nonetheless, as the President did not sent the proposal to the Constitutional Court either, thus paving the way for his dismissal.

"The Homeland Salvation Movement considers the position of President Armen Sarkissian on dismissing Onik Gasparyan, the Chief of the Army General Staff, extremely worrying," the announcement disseminated by the movement reads.

"According to the message [published by the President], the head of state has not appealed against [Prime Minister] Nikol Pashinyan's decision at the Constitutional Court.

"Based on the above, the representatives of the Homeland Salvation Movement demand an urgent meeting with the Armenian President."