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The chief of the Armenian army’s General Staff, Onik Gasparyan, is from now on considered relieved of his post by virtue of law, according to a statement signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday.

The statement, released by the government’s press service, says Gasparyan is considered dismissed after the president neither signed a draft decree on his dismissal nor asked the Constitutional Court to determine its legality within the timeframe prescribed by law.

Pashinyan sacked the army chief and petitioned President Armen Sarkissian to approve his order after the military’s top brass demanded his and his cabinet’s resignation on February 25.

The president refused to sign a draft decree on Gasparyan’s dismissal on February 27, saying that it was “unconstitutional”.

The premier resent his motion to the president, stating his decision was “unfounded”. Sarkissian again refused to sign the draft decree, but did not ask the Constitutional Court to determine its constitutionality.

“Given the fact that the President did not sign the draft decree submitted by the Prime Minister and did not apply to the Constitutional Court within the timeframe set forth in Article 35.1, Part 3 of the law “On Military Service and Status of Servicemen”, based on Part 3 of Article 139 of the Constitution, as well as Part 6 of Article 35.1 of the law “On Military Service and Status Servicemen” and Part 3 of Article 40 of the same law, Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan is considered dismissed from his post from March 10, 2021 by virtue of law,” the statement read.