2021 Armenian coup d'état attempt
Part of 2020–2021 Armenian protests
Date25 February 2021 (2021-02-25) – 28 March 2021 (2021-03-28)
Location
Armenia
Result
Belligerents

General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces
Political support: Homeland Salvation Movement[5]

Self-declared non-involvement:

President[7]
National Security Service[8]
Police[9]
Prosecutor General's Office[10]
Bright Armenia

Pashinyan government
Supported by:

Political support:

Commanders and leaders
Onik Gasparyan (Chief of the General Staff)
Serzh Sargsyan (alleged by Pashinyan)[14]		 Armen Sargsyan (President)
Armen Abazyan (Director of the NSS)
Vahe Ghazaryan (Chief of Police)
Artur Davtyan (Prosecutor General)		 Nikol Pashinyan (Prime Minister)
Vagharshak Harutiunyan (Defense Minister)
Strength
March 1: 5,000[15]—40,000 (claimed)[16] N/A March 1: 20,000[17]—60,000 (claimed)[18]

The 2021 Armenian political crisis was an alleged military coup attempt by the Armed Forces of Armenia led by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan against the government of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan accused Gasparyan and 40 other high-ranking military officers of attempting a coup after they published a statement calling for Pashinyan's resignation on 25 February 2021.

Background

Anti-government protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have been ongoing in Armenia since the country's defeat in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

On 23 February 2021, Pashinyan gave an interview where, in response to claims made by former president Serzh Sargsyan, he cast doubt on the effectiveness of Armenia's Russian-supplied 9K720 Iskander missiles, implying that they were ineffective when used during the war against Azerbaijan.[19] The next day, first deputy chief of the General Staff Tiran Khachatryan gave an interview where he reportedly laughed derisively at Pashinyan's claim about the missiles' effectiveness; Khachatryan was dismissed from his post hours later.[20]

Alleged coup attempt

On 25 February 2021, Armenian Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan said in a statement signed by 40 top officers that Pashinyan and the government "are no longer able to make proper decisions in this fateful moment of crisis for the Armenian people", adding that their demand was triggered by Pashinyan's dismissal of the first deputy chief of the General Staff Tiran Khachatryan a day earlier.[21]

Pashinyan responded to the statement by calling it an attempted military coup and called on his allies to gather in the capital Yerevan’s main Republic Square.[22][23][24] Pashinyan also signed an order dismissing Onik Gasparyan from his post.[25] While Pashinyan rallied his supporters in Republic Square, the opposition coalition called the Homeland Salvation movement held a parallel rally in Freedom Square in support of the generals' declaration.[26] During his speech to his supporters, Pashinyan again suggested snap elections as the solution to the political crisis but stated that he would only resign at the demand of the Armenian people.[26]

Protesters led by the Homeland Salvation Movement barricaded streets around parliament overnight and set up tents to add pressure on the government to step aside. Another protest was called for at 13:00 the next day.[27]

Two days later Armenian President Armen Sarksyan refused the order from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to dismiss Onik Gasparyan, saying parts of the decree were in violation of the constitution. Pashinyan immediately resent the motion to dismiss Gasparyan to the president.[28] On 27 February, more than 15,000 protested in the capital Yerevan calling for Pashinyan to resign.[29]

On 1 March, Pashinyan and the opposition again held rival rallies. Pashinyan accused Onik Gasparyan of treason and alleged that he issued the statement calling for Pashinyan's resignation at the suggestion of former president Serzh Sargsyan.[30]

On 2 March, President Armen Sarksyan declared his decision once again not to sign the motion to dismiss Gasparyan and to make a separate appeal to the Constitutional Court of Armenia regarding the decision.[31] However, as he did not send the motion itself to the Constitutional Court for review, Gasparyan's dismissal is to come into effect by force of law.[32][33] In accordance with the Armenian Constitution, Gasparyan is supposed to be relieved from his post on 4 March, although the General Staff announced that Gasparyan will stay in his role for eight days after the president makes his appeal to the Constitutional Court.[34][35] On 5 March, Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on defense and security, stated that Gasparyan's responsibilities are being fulfilled by Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutiunyan.[36]

On 28 March Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced he would resign in April, stating that his resignation was in order to hold snap elections in June.[4]

Reactions

Domestic

Both pro-government and opposition rallies were held in the capital Yerevan on 25 February.[37] On 1 March, protesters stormed a government building in Yerevan to demand Nikol Pashinyan's resignation.[38] The leader of the second largest opposition faction in parliament, Edmon Marukyan, suggested an agreement between the government and the parliamentary opposition by which the government would initiate snap elections but stop attempts to dismiss Onik Gasparyan from his post.[39]

International

  •  Russia: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was following the events in Armenia with concern, called on the sides to calm down and show restraint. Adding that the military's demand for the prime minister's resignation, is Armenia's internal affair.[40]
  •  Turkey: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu strongly condemned the alleged coup attempt, saying it was unacceptable that the military had called for the resignation of a democratically elected leader.[41]
  •  Azerbaijan: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated "Armenia has never been in such a bad and miserable situation. The administrators in Armenia are responsible for this situation".[42]
  •  Artsakh: President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan expressed his extreme concern about the "recent internal political developments in the Republic of Armenia" and warned that the defeat of the Armenian side in the recent war could become "even deeper and fatal" if all sides did not show restraint. He offered his services as a mediator.[43] General Vitaly Balasanyan, Secretary of the Artsakh Security Council, expressed his support for Gasparyan and the army.[44] Justice, ARF and the Democratic Party of Artsakh declared their support for the General Staff.[45]
  •  Sweden: Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde has expressed concern over the latest developments in Armenia, stating that "The situation must be resolved without violence".[46]
  •  United States: The United States urged "all parties to exercise calm and restraint and to de-escalate tensions peacefully."[47] The United States Department of State warned the Armenian military not to involve itself in politics.[48]
  • European Union PACE: The co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the monitoring of Armenia found the statement issued on February 25 by the office of the General Staff "to be unacceptable", calling "upon all political forces and state actors to fully respect democratic principles and the Constitution of Armenia, and to take all necessary steps to immediately de-escalate the current situation".[49]

References

  1. ↑ "Armenia's embattled PM appoints new chief of military". The Nation. 11 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Kocharyan, Stepan (22 March 2021). "Prime Minister says Lt. General Artak Davtyan's appointment as army chief is coming into force". armenpress.am.
  3. ↑ "Embattled Armenian PM Announces Early Parliamentary Elections In June". RFE/RL. 18 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Armenian prime minister to step down in April". DW. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  5. ↑ ""Հայրենիքի փրկության շարժումը" ողջունել է Զինված ուժերի հայտարարությունը և իր զորակցությունը հայտնել". azatutyun.am (in Armenian). RFE/RL. 25 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Armenia and Azerbaijan sign Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire deal brokered by Moscow". 20 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "The call of the President of the Republic on the current situation". president.am. The Office to the President of the Republic of Armenia. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "Հայտարարություն". sns.am (in Armenian). Republic of Armenia National Security Service. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Հայտարարություն". police.am (in Armenian). Republic of Armenia Police. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Հայտարարություն". prosecutor.am (in Armenian). Republic of Armenia Prosecutor’s Office. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Statement of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia". seco.am. Security Council of the Republic of Armenia. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Announcement". mil.am. Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  13. ↑ ""Իմ քայլը" խմբակցությունը հայտարարում է՝ միասնական է և սատարում է վարչապետին". azatutyun.am (in Armenian). RFE/RL. 25 February 2021.
  14. ↑ Hovsepyan, Gayane (1 March 2021). "Pashinyan Accuses Serzh Sargsyan of Manipulating Army Generals". Hetq.
  15. ↑ "UIC statement on the number of participants of the March 1 opposition rally". uic.am. Union of Informed Citizens. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "Նոյեմբերի 10-ին մի քանի հազար մարդ էինք, հիմա 40 հզր հոգանոց հանրահավաքներ ենք անում. Մամիջանյան" (in Armenian). Tert.am. 1 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "UIC statement on the number of participants of the March 1 rally convened by Nikol Pashinyan". uic.am. Union of Informed Citizens. 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  18. ↑ "Իմ հաշվարկով երեկ հրապարակում մոտավորապես 60 հազար մարդ կար. Հովիկ Աղազարյան" (in Armenian). ArmDaily TV. 2 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Armenian armed forces demand PM's resignation". JAMnews. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  20. ↑ Babayan, Aza (1 March 2021). "Pashinian Blames Other Officials For 'Wrong' Claim About Russian Missile". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Armenian Military Demands Government's Resignation". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  22. ↑ Roth, Andrew (25 February 2021). "Armenian prime minister accuses military of attempted coup". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  23. ↑ "Armenia PM warns of coup attempt after army seeks his resignation". Al Jazeera English. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  24. ↑ Khojoyan, Sara (25 February 2021). "Armenian Premier Warns of Coup as Army Tells Him to Quit". Bloomberg. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  25. ↑ "Armenian President In No Rush To Sack Army Chief". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Thousands Rally For, Against Armenian PM". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. 25 February 2020. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  27. ↑ Saribekyan, Gayane (26 February 2021). "Գիշերը Բաղրամյան պողոտայում միջադեպեր չեն եղել". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  28. ↑ "Sarkissian Defends Opposition To Army Chief's Sacking". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  29. ↑ "Armenia's president refuses order to dismiss military chief". ABC News. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021.
  30. ↑ ""Երբ իմ կողմից նշանակված ԳՇ պետը կատարում է մերժվածի հրամանները, ամենամեծ դավաճանությունն է". ՀՀ վարչապետ". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  31. ↑ "Onik Gasparyan will be relieved of his post by force of law". www.1lurer.am. Public Television Company of Armenia. 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  32. ↑ "Օնիկ Գասպարյանը հրաժեշտ կտա իր պաշտոնին․ "Ա1+"" [Onik Gasparyan will part with his post: «Ա1+»]. www.aravot.am (in Armenian). 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  33. ↑ "Օնիկ Գասպարյանը հրաժեշտ կտա իր պաշտոնին․ փաստաբան" [Lawyer: Onik Gasparyan will part with his post]. A1Plus (in Armenian). 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  34. ↑ Badalyan, Hakob (3 March 2021). "Բազմիմաստ և տագնապալի արձագանք Գլխավոր շտաբից" [Significant and worrying response from the General Staff]. 1in.am (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021. The Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, Colonel-General Onik Viktori Gasparyan will continue his services to the homeland and the people for an 8-day period (this period starts after the President's appeal to the Constitutional Court)...
  35. ↑ "Արմեն Սարգսյանը հանդիպել է Օնիկ Գասպարյանի հետ" [Armen Sargsyan has met with Onik Gasparyan]. CIVILNET (in Armenian). 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021. The president of the Republic will make a separate appeal to the Constitutional Court about the decision corresponding to the November 15, 2017 RA "Law on Military Service and Serviceman's Status [translation]
  36. ↑ Kirakosyan, Narek (5 March 2021). "Օնիկ Գասպարյանի լիազորությունները կատարում է Վաղարշակ Հարությունյանը. Անդրանիկ Քոչարյան․ ՏԵՍԱՆՅՈՒԹ" [Vagharshak Harutyunyan is carrying out Onik Gasparyan's responsibilities: Andranik Kocharyan. VIDEO]. factor.am (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  37. ↑ "Armenia PM warns of coup attempt after army seeks his resignation". Al Jazeera English. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  38. ↑ "Armenia: Protesters storm gov't building amid political crisis". www.aljazeera.com.
  39. ↑ ռ/կ, Ազատություն (1 March 2021). "Էդմոն Մարուքյանը Նիկոլ Փաշինյանին առաջարկում է հուշագիր ստորագրել". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  40. ↑ Teslova, Elena (25 February 2021). "Moscow follows crisis in Armenia with 'concern'". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  41. ↑ "Turkey condemns 'coup attempt' in Armenia". Reuters. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  42. ↑ "Son dakika... Ermenistan'daki olaylara ilişkin Aliyev'den açıklama" (in Turkish). CNN Türk. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  43. ↑ ռ/կ, Ազատություն (25 February 2021). "Արցախի նախագահը մտահոգված է Հայաստանում ներքաղաքական զարգացումներով, իր միջնորդությունն է առաջարկում" [Artsakh's president is worried about the internal political developments in Armenia, offers his mediation]. «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  44. ↑ LLC, Helix Consulting. "General Vitaly Balasanyan stands with Homeland Salvation Movement – statement - aysor.am - Hot news from Armenia". www.aysor.am. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  45. ↑ Badalyan, Susan (25 February 2021). "Արցախում տագնապով են հետևում ներհայաստանյան իրադարձություններին". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան (in Arabic). Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  46. ↑ "Ann Linde's tweet". Twitter.
  47. ↑ "Armenia PM Nikol Pashinyan accuses army of attempted coup". BBC News. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  48. ↑ Buniatian, Heghine (26 February 2021). "U.S. Warns Armenian Military Not To Meddle In Politics". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  49. ↑ "PACE co-rapporteurs deem the statement of General Staff of Armenia's Armed Forces 'unacceptable'".
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