Who are the Potential Candidates for the Chief of the General Staff? The Selection is Not So Easy

In the context of the events surrounding the Chief of the General Staff, Onik Gasparyan, the authorities are discussing the potential candidates for the position. The newspaper "Past" writes that, while officials from the General Staff directly hint that one should not expect Gasparyan to leave, the government is in search mode.

"The first candidate was Andranik Makaryan, but due to the kompromat and pressures against him, the most the authorities have achieved is his refusal to join the General Staff's statement. He stated that he does not consider it moral to take up that position after Gasparyan. Moreover, he has indicated that he will resign following the resolution of this issue," the article states.

The second candidate is currently Jalal Harutyunyan, head of the Ministry of Defense's Inspection Service; however, he has not yet made a definitive decision on how to move forward in the current situation. His health issues also still prevent him from being fully engaged in the service.

Another candidate being discussed is the commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, Lieutenant General Mikael Arzumanyan, whose transfer to the Armenian Armed Forces General Staff is considered one of the most likely scenarios, provided that Gasparyan's "issues are resolved." In Arzumanyan's case, it is noted that the Defense Army has not been involved in the recent internal events in Armenia, making him a more neutral candidate, especially since the existing candidates do not want to corner Gasparyan or be targeted by the public.

The situation escalated after the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces demanded Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation on February 25, stating that the political leadership is leading the state toward a dangerous threshold. This occurred after the Prime Minister removed the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Tigran Khachatryan, from his post.

In response, Nikol Pashinyan announced a coup attempt and called on citizens to gather in Republic Square to "defend the revolution." He also disclosed that he had signed an order for the dismissal of Chief of Staff Onik Gasparyan, which, however, was not signed by President Armen Sarkissian and was returned on February 27. On the same day, the Prime Minister sent the proposal to the President again.

On March 1, the General Staff issued a new statement reaffirming its assessments regarding the situation and emphasizing that, regardless of attempts to involve the Armed Forces in political processes, it remains steadfast, measured, and resolute.

On March 2, it became known that the president had not signed the decree on the dismissal of Onik Gasparyan from the position of Chief of Staff but would address the Constitutional Court not regarding the constitutionality of the draft decree presented by Nikol Pashinyan but rather on the question of compliance with the Constitution of the Armenian law of November 15, 2017, on "Military Service and the Status of Military Personnel.”

The Homeland Salvation Movement declared after this information that it demands an urgent meeting with the President.