Onik Gasparyan Went Home Last Night: Pashinyan Sent Letter to Colleagues

Yesterday, a significant portion of the public experienced deep disappointment. The President of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, did not sign the decree for Onik Gasparyan, and he will be legally removed from his position.

The well-informed sources of the "Zhoghavor" newspaper reported that Onik Gasparyan went home last night; until that point, he had been staying overnight at the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense. However, this does not indicate a retreat but rather a short pause. Members of the General Staff are waiting for Gasparyan's arrival in the morning and new instructions.

Regarding Armen Sarkissian's unexpected decision, it should be noted that the day before, when the president met Prime Minister Pashinyan, the deputies of the “My Step” faction attacked the president on social media and in interviews. MP Vahagn Hovakimyan even considered the option of expressing distrust towards the president the day before. At the same time, opposition leaders were sending compliments to Armen Sarkissian.

After the meeting with the president, the prime minister sent an SMS to his colleagues “disconnecting” criticism, and it was not surprising that yesterday the situation changed 180 degrees. Pashinyan's demand will be met: Onik Gasparyan will most likely cease to be the Chief of the General Staff on March 4. Other steps are of a lyrical nature—Constitutional Court, constitutionality of the law, and so on.

What was agreed upon among the president, the prime minister, and then the prime minister and opposition leaders will become clear in the near future.