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File COMBO from L -R of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinya ,President Armen Sarkissian and Lieutenant General Onik Gasparyan
Armenia’s President Armen Sarkisian said on Saturday he had refused to sign the prime minister’s order dismissing the chief of the military’s general staff, deepening the country’s political crisis.
“The president of the republic, within the framework of his constitutional powers, returned the draft decree with objections,” the presidency said in a statement, adding that the crisis “cannot be resolved through frequent personnel changes”.
Divisions widened Thursday when Pashinyan defied a call by the military to resign, accused the army of an attempted coup, and ordered the chief of the general staff Onik Gasparyan to be fired.
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Armenia s president refuses to back PM against military
President Armen Sarkissian refused to fire the army s chief of staff, despite Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan s claims that the military is attempting a coup.
Pashinyan finds himself increasingly isolated in the row with the military
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claims the military is plotting a coup. He has pledged to fire Onik Gasparyan, the chief of the armed forces general staff, after the military leaders demanded his resignation.
However, Pashinyan s order was deemed to be unconstitutional by attorneys and experts who studied it, the office of President Sarkissian said on Saturday.
The statement also said that the president is not protecting any political power and is guided by national interests.
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