Pashinyan's supporters, opponents held rallies: situation remains tense in Armenia, 01.03.21 digest

Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 01.03.21:

The rumors about possible clashes intensified when it became known that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan would hold a rally on Monday in Yerevan, while an opposition Homeland Salvation Movement convened a rally at 6 pm on Baghramyan Avenue.

The situation in Armenia is tense as Armenian President Armen Sarkissian had refused to fire the head of the country’s armed forces on Saturday, intensifying a standoff between Pashinyan and the army over what Pashinyan said was an attempted coup to remove him.

Pashinyan dismissed Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan on Thursday, but his sacking needed the formal approval of the president. According to the constitution, Sarkissian now has two choices: either to sign the decree or to challenge it in the Constitutional Court, for which he has time until tomorrow.....

A large-scale rally organized by the Homeland Salvation Movement kicked off in front of the Armenian parliament building on Monday at 6 pm.

Participants demanded the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, express their full support to the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

An unprecedented number of police troops have been concentrated at Republic Square in Yerevan. Armenian News- NEWS.am’s correspondent reports that the police have paved the way for Nikol Pashinyan to pass....

Meanwhile, the Russian Wargonzo Telegram channel reported that Turkish media submitted an application to cover Pashinyan's rally in Yerevan and were going to enter Armenia via Georgia.

Certain state bodies of Armenia reprtedly agreed to the arrival of Turkish journalists, but the Russian side was against it....

A sitting of the Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was held Monday - the external and internal security challenges were discussed. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan and President Armen Sarkissian did not take part in the sitting.

The President's Office clarified that Sarkissian was invited to the sitting of the Security Council, but did not participate in the sitting due to health issues.

After the meeting, the Security Council issued a statement calling on the President to comply with the Prime Minister's motion to dismiss the Chief of General Staff and to sign a decree submitted by PM Pashinyan....

Meanwhile, ruling My Step MP Vahagn Hovakimyan has hinted that it is possible that their faction will initiate the process of ousting Armen Sarkissian on the grounds of gross violation of the Constitution.

The opposition described Hovakimyan's statement as a threat.

By the way, a remarkable turn took place in the history of Russia-made Iskander, which caused all this internal political tension. Nikol Pashinyan, who questioned the efficiency of Iskander changed his opinion after a phone talk with Vladimir Putin. According to his spokesman Mane Gevorgyan, the PM came to the conclusion that he had not been properly informed about the situation.

There is no doubt about the fact that Russian weapons are among the best in the world, the spokesperson noted quoting the PM.

President Armen Sarkissian and PM Nikol Pashinyan met Monday.

The sides met amid Sarkissian’s health issues. The two also reflected on the political situation in the country.

“Other reports being disseminated are absolutely false and an attempt to further aggravate the already tense situation," the president's office added.

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