Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivers a speech during a rally of his supporters at Republic Square in downtown Yerevan on March 1, 2021. (ARIS MESSINIS / AFP)
YEREVAN – Armenia will hold an early parliamentary election on June 20, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday.
Pashinyan confirmed this on Facebook, adding that the best way out of the current political situation is an early parliamentary election.
The announcement came amid rising tensions between PM Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian army's general staff and opposition parties on the government's resignation.
The announcement came amid rising tensions between Pashinyan and the Armenian army's general staff and opposition parties on the government's resignation.
READ MORE: Armenia govt says decree sacking top general comes into force
On March 10, the Prime Minister's Office said that Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan was considered dismissed because President Armen Sarkissian neither signed his dismissal order nor applied to the constitutional court within the deadline stipulated by law.
Meanwhile, Pashinyan appointed Artak Davtyan as the new Chief of the General Staff and sent the motion to Sarkissian.
Previously on Feb 27, Pashinyan submitted a second request to Sarkissian, seeking Gasparyan's dismissal shortly after Sarkissian refused to sign the request and said the motion to fire the military chief is unconstitutional.
On Feb 25, Pashinyan dismissed Gasparyan and sent the motion to Sarkissian, accusing him of attempting a military coup.
Earlier that day, Gasparyan, his deputies and dozens of top military commanders signed a statement, demanding Pashinyan and his cabinet resign.
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