ArmInfo.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with RIA Novosti that his relations with the Armenian military have normalized, the army, together with the Cabinet of Ministers, is working to strengthen the country's security.
"The situation with the General Staff of the Armed Forces has been resolved, and the army, together with the government, will fully continue steps to ensure security and strengthen the country," the head of government said.
Another political crisis flared up in Yerevan after Pashinyan's ill-considered words about the Russian Iskander missile systems. According to media reports, the deputy chief of the general staff of Armenia ridiculed the prime minister, for which he was dismissed, following him the chief of the general staff was offered to resign. The Armenian Armed Forces issued a statement demanding the resignation of Pashinyan himself. The prime minister regarded this as an attempted coup and called on his supporters to take to the streets.
Pashinyan insists that Artak Davtyan is considered the appointed head of the general staff of the country's armed forces, and not the previously dismissed Onik Gasparyan. Despite the fact that President Armen Sarkissian did not re-approve Pashinyan's proposal to appoint Davtyan, according to the law, he takes office automatically. Gasparyan, in turn, stated that "the way out of the crisis is possible only as a result of the resignation of the prime minister of the republic and early parliamentary elections." According to Gasparyan's lawyers, their client can fulfill his duties as chief of the General Staff. The defense attorney made such a conclusion from the decision of the Administrative Court on measures to secure Gasparyan's claim.