Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Invites Chief of General Staff and Minister to Meeting

This morning, Nikol Pashinyan summoned the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Onik Gasparyan, and the Minister of Defense for a meeting. Hraparak.am reports that their vehicles were spotted near Prowshyan's government summer residence.

The summons could be related to Pashinyan's upcoming visit to Moscow on January 11, where he is scheduled to meet with Ilham Aliyev with Vladimir Putin in attendance. However, the urgent nature of calling for this meeting may also be connected to a letter published yesterday evening by Vazgen Manukyan, in which he addressed Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian, National Security Service Director Armen Abazian, and Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan.

In the letter, Manukyan expressed concern over the “extremely dangerous situation” in the country, the “deteriorating security system,” and ongoing concessions and losses “due to the questionable and anti-state decisions of a defeated prime minister.” He reminded them that with the Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting scheduled for January 11, they “are officially responsible for all decisions made and to be made, and are obligated to present the reality to the public and prevent the adoption of anti-state decisions by protecting the interests of the state and the people.” Therefore, he demanded a meeting with representatives of the Homeland Salvation Movement today, January 9.

It seems that Nikol Pashinyan has called them in an effort to prevent such a meeting and keep the situation under his control. At this moment, the Minister of Defense and the Chief of General Staff are still with Pashinyan.