Armen Sarkissian Has Not Yet Made a Decision Regarding the Dismissal of Onik Gasparyan

The President of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, has not yet made a decision regarding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's proposal to dismiss the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Onik Gasparyan. This information was confirmed by the President's assistant, Hasmik Petrosyan, during an interview with Armenpress.

“There is still no decision,” Petrosyan stated.

On February 25, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed to President Armen Sarkissian the dismissal of Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan. It is known that the president has received the proposal but has not yet signed it.

Article 139 of the Constitution of Armenia stipulates that in exercising his powers, the president of the republic adopts decrees and orders, and may return the relevant act within three days with his objections to the proposing body. The second point of Article 139 mentions that “the president of the republic may return the relevant act within three days with his objections to the proposing body in cases defined by Articles 131-137, as well as the third part of Article 155 and the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh parts of Article 166.” If the competent body does not accept this objection, then the President of the Republic must sign the relevant act or refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.

The third point of the same article states that if the President of the Republic does not fulfill the requirements stipulated in the second part of this article, then the respective act shall enter into force by the force of law.