Judge Liana Hakobyan Returns Onik Gasparyan's Application

The Administrative Court of Armenia, chaired by Judge Liana Hakobyan, has returned the application of former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian.

The decision can be appealed in the Administrative Court of Appeals within 5 days after receiving it.

Onik Gasparyan's lawyer, Artur Hovhannisyan, had filed an application with the Administrative Court against the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, requesting the annulment of the presidential decree that dismissed General-Major Onik Gasparyan from his position as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, which was confirmed by the Prime Minister's statement on March 10, 2021, deeming Onik Gasparyan dismissed from his position.

On March 22, the government issued a statement indicating that Artak Davtyan is legally considered appointed as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia. However, just days earlier, the Administrative Court, presided over by Judge Mher Petrosyan, granted the lawyer’s request for interim measures in Onik Gasparyan's case, which sought to suspend his dismissal until a final judicial act is reached.

It is worth noting that after the Administrative Court's decision, the Prime Minister's office issued a statement asserting that Onik Gasparyan is dismissed from the position of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

On February 25, Nikol Pashinyan announced during a Facebook live broadcast that he decided to dismiss Onik Gasparyan from his position as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Earlier that same day, the Armed Forces demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister and the government.

Additionally, Onik Gasparyan has sent an application to the Prosecutor General's office, requesting the initiation of a criminal case against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan under Article 308, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, specifically for the abuse of official powers that has resulted in serious consequences.