Armenian FM defends General Staff of Armed Forces

The demand of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was not an attempt at a military coup.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan, who is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), told in an interview with the Al Arabiya TV channel.

"They just made a political statement, which is not an attempted coup itself. It was also the assessment of different countries and international organizations. There are no elements of a coup d'etat in Armenia."

Notably, the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces issued a statement on February 25 demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The document was signed by Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan, and more than 40 high-ranking service members. Among them are commanders of 19 generals and army corps.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces strongly protested against the dismissal of the First Deputy Chief of Staff Tigran Khachatryan. The General Staff called the decision of the Prime Minister irresponsible against the state.