Armenia's prime minister denounces coup attempt

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has dismissed the chief of the army's general staff following a statement issued by some 30 commanders calling for the resignation of the executive, accusing them of "not being able to make reasonable decisions". 

"I consider the communiqué of the General Staff as an attempted military coup d'état," Pashinian accused on his Facebook account, while calling on his supporters to gather in Republic Square in the capital Yerevan to reject the coup attempt.

The armed forces alluded in their statement to the fact that they have "patiently tolerated the attacks by the government aimed at defaming the armed forces", but assured that "everything has its limits", and accused the government of committing "serious mistakes in foreign policy".

A clear allusion to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that pitted Armenia and Azerbaijan against each other from September last year until the fighting ceased on 10 November, following an agreement that entailed the loss of part of Armenian territory in the region, which, although under Azeri sovereignty, proclaimed itself independent. 

What was a de facto defeat for Armenia has not only angered the army but also the opposition, which has been demanding the resignation of the government for more than three months.

"The army has always been with the people, just as the people are with the army," reads another part of the military statement.

The prime minister, for his part, assures that the military "have to respond" to questions from society in order to know the "truth about the war" that cost the country more than 4,000 lives. "There are generals who don't like people being able to ask them questions," he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been a disputed territory since 1988. Armenia controlled part of the territory since its victory in the previous war (1992-1994), after which the two countries agreed to a ceasefire that has broken down several times, although the 2016 conflict, which lasted four days, was the only notable one. The region, despite being part of Azerbaijani territory, is populated by ethnic Armenians. 

The conflict between September and November 2020 left a total of 5,500 military personnel dead on both sides and some 150 civilians, according to official sources. Russian President Vladimir Putin played a leading role in the peace deal, which leaves Azerbaijan in control of more than two-thirds of the territory, even though it had declared independence three times after referendums in 1991, 2006 and 2017, which were not recognised by the international community.

Since the signing of the agreement, there have been numerous protests on the country's streets. Pashinian argued that it was necessary to put an end to a conflict that was leaving thousands dead. However, the opposition criticised him for not having ceased hostilities earlier, when the terms of the agreement could have been more beneficial for Armenia.

Protests resumed a few days ago when opponents blocked the streets of Yerevan and brought traffic to a standstill, chanting "Nikol, traitor". The opposition had long given him an ultimatum and even offered former prime minister Vazgen Manukyan as a possible interim head of government until new elections could be held. 

The tension between the prime minister's supporters and opponents promises to continue to divide the country. The steps taken by the army in the coming hours will be crucial in determining whether the coup denounced by Pashinian finally takes place.