The President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian refused on Saturday to sign the draft decree on dismissing the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, proposed by PM Nikol Pashinyan. As the President's Administration said in a statement, the respective proposal and the draft decree was submitted to  President on February 25. According to Armenia's Constitution, the President has three days to express his position, however, as the statement issued on Saturday said, Sarkissian returned the decree to the government with objections, citing “apparent anti-constitutional” nature of  the decree. 

It is noted that the draft document has been examined by the lawyers of the Administration of the President and independent experts. Furthermore, consultations and meetings with representatives of the government, parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces, top military leadership have led to the conclusion that the decree is problematic from the viewpoint of constitutionality.

It is reminded that the President of the Republic is not on the side of anyone or any political force and in his functions, he is guided exclusively by the interests of the state and the people.