The rally Nikol Pashinyan organized took place on Republic Square in Yerevan. In his speech, Nikol Pashinyan said, “The statement made by the General Staff makes Onik Gasparyan’s removal from his position as chief inevitable. This is inevitable because the chief of General Staff who makes political statements, especially one who does so at the orders of Serzh Sargsyan and the Republican Party- people who want to suppress the people’s will under tanks as they did in 2008- simply cannot exist in Armenia. All of this should not give rise to vendettas in the Armed Forces. Onik Gasparyan and the Armed Forces have not crossed any red lines and they will not do so, but Onik Gasparyan must inevitably resign from the position of the chief of General Staff. There will be no vendettas in the Armed Forces because it does not matter who signed or did not sign the document. Onik Gasparyan made the decision to put the document on the table and sign it at Serzh Sargsyan’s urging. I do not want to say at his orders. I must say it directly: when the chief of the General Staff I appointed carries out the orders of the rejected regime, that is the greatest form of treason. That is treason!”
Pashinyan said that Onik Gasparyan decided to publish the document after signing it, and so, Onik Gasparyan needs to be removed. The others must return to their service. “Some groups have inspired soldiers to turn the army into a scapegoat, saying that the government and authorities want to try and arrest our soldiers. This is being done. Can you imagine that 40, 50, 500 people have been convinced that they will be put on trials? The government wants to put everyone on trial. And only a few people are most likely doing this in order to hide behind the heroic, brave, and dedicated officers. We know who the heroes are and we know who the cowards are. You will not be able to turn the people’s heroes against the people. And Onik, you made a huge mistake. You did not carry out the orders and instructions of your leader. You carried out the orders of someone who was rejected by the people, who robbed the country, and who tried to get his share in everything. That is a great insult to an officer’s honor. It is humiliating.” He urged the people not to accept those statements as ‘de jure,’ arguing that they are political statements instead.
As far as what needs to happen when the mediation to remove the chief of the General Staff from his position is sent to the president’s cabinet again, Pashinyan said that he hopes the president will make a decision that will be based on national security and the people’s best interests. “The president was not feeling well. I visited him today, and I want to wish him good health on behalf of the people. I hope he feels better soon.”
Hripsime Jebejyan
