Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday announced the resignation of the head of the General Staff of the country’s Armed Forces, Onik Gasparyan. Instead, the prime minister proposed to appoint Lieutenant General Artak Davtyan to this position.
Pashinyan sent to the Armenian President Armen Sarkissian a proposal on the appointment of Artak Davtyan as head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, who had already headed the department from 2018 to 2020. Until his candidacy is approved by the head of the republic, in accordance with the order of the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Stepan Galstyan will temporarily act as Chief of the General Staff.
Pashinyan explained Gasparyan’s dismissal by the fact that the Armenian President did not sign the petition for his dismissal on time and did not appeal it to the Constitutional Court. However, Sargsyan sent a statement to the Constitutional Court with a request to determine the issue of compliance with the constitution of the law “On military service and the status of servicemen”, according to which the head of the General Staff is appointed and dismissed.
The press service of the court announced that it will consider the application within three days, after which a hearing will be scheduled, which can last up to 30 days.
Former head of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan considers his resignation unconstitutional, in connection with which he decided to appeal to the administrative court. Gasparyan also continues to insist on the need to resign the prime minister and hold early parliamentary elections.