Nikol Pashinyan: The army should obey only the government elected by  the people

ArmInfo.The army must obey only the government elected by the people. On February 25, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a similar appeal to the servicemen of  the Armenian armed forces at a rally.

He noted that as a representative elected by the people, he appeals  to soldiers, officers and generals to protect the borders and the  territorial integrity of the state. "This is my order, and no one has  the right to even try to question this order," Nikol Pashinyan said.  He added that some people tried and are trying to involve the army in  political, anti-constitutional and anti-people processes. Today's  statement by the General Staff, according to Pashinyan, is an attempt  at a coup d'etat, but the people will not allow this. At the same  time, as the Prime Minister stressed, the Armenian army is the army  of the people. "I am sure that many generals and high-ranking  officers signed this statement under pressure and orders from higher-  ranking commanders. Nevertheless, addressing them, I once again urge  them to do their job to protect state borders and maintain  territorial integrity," the head of the government said.  He added  that the army should not look back to the rear. It must not get  involved in political processes.

"The army must obey only the government elected by the people. Those  who go beyond this logic act against our people, against our state,  against the laws, against the security of Armenia. And I demand that  those high-ranking officers who have left their places of service,  come back right now and ensure the security of the state. This is our  clear demand, "the head of the Armenian government said.  He noted  that the incumbent government, since 2018, has spared nothing for the  army. In 2019 alone, the country's defense budget was increased by 50  billion drams, and salaries for all officers and contractors were  increased. This sent a signal that the current government highly  values service in the armed forces. At the same time, as Pashinyan  noted, the former government, which was rich at the expense of the  army, and today, unfortunately, has executors in the armed forces,  and these executors must immediately leave. "They are trying to  accuse me of treason in the squares. But what do so many people who  gathered for the rally have to do with the traitor? By this, they  actually want to accuse you all of treason," Nikol Pashinyan said.