Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan does not appear to understand that the demand of the army’s General Staff for resignation is a “final verdict” for him, Vazgen Manukyan, the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement’s candidate for interim prime minister, told reporters during a rally on Marshal Bagharmyan Avenue in central Yerevan on Friday.
The opposition leader believes that Pashinyan either has to resign voluntarily or will be removed from office through a parliamentary vote.
Addressing the concerns that the statement of the army’s top brass demanding the resignation of Pashinyan and his government violated Armenia’s security, Manukyan said “the security of Armenia is at zero level and can no longer be violated,” adding Pashinyan further reduced the country’s security level with his remarks about the Russian-made Iskander missiles.
According to Manukyan, the army ensures the country's security and finds a target that threatens it, while Nikol Pashinyan “is posing a threat” to the country's security and must step down.
He noted that the leadership of the General Staff and the commanders of all 5 army corps joined the statement, adding it is a matter within their competence.
Vazgen Manukyan believes that Nikol Pashinyan sought to provoke clashes when he organized a rally in Yerevan on Thursday, as it was the case on March 1, 2008.
He said a meeting of a parliamentary council will take place at 11am today to discuss the demand of the opposition factions to convene a special sitting, since the required number of signatures have been collected.
The opposite leader unveiled their plans to hold a march and return to Baghramyan Avenue during the sitting of the National Assembly.
In Manukyan’s words, the current authorities have almost completely lost everything, they have no popular support and are in “agony”. The opposition has taken all necessary actions for a nationwide rally to take place, he said, adding demonstrators from Armenia’s regions are going to join them today.