Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has made controversial decisions, including the dismissal of Lieutenant-General Kamo Kochunts, the first deputy chief of the Armenian army’s General Staff, and the appointment of nine other senior officers to key positions.
Kochunts’ removal, replaced by Colonel Artur Yeroyan as per a presidential decree initiated by Pashinyan, was disclosed late on Tuesday. Yeroyan, formerly in charge of Armenia’s main military academy, now steps into this critical role.
Additionally, two other deputy army chiefs of staff were named, along with the appointment of new heads for three General Staff divisions. However, no official explanations were provided for these changes. While Gagik Melkonian, a pro-government lawmaker and retired army general, cited ongoing defense reforms as the rationale behind these moves, the lack of transparency raises questions.
Melkonian’s attempt to justify Kochunts’s dismissal by attributing it to age, rather than recent military setbacks, seems dubious. The timing, following a ceasefire violation that resulted in the deaths of four Armenian soldiers, adds to suspicions surrounding the motives behind these changes.
Speculation looms over the fate of General Staff chief Lieutenant-General Eduard Asrian, with some sources suggesting his potential removal. This follows a pattern seen in February 2022 when Asrian’s predecessor, Artak Davtian, and six other generals were ousted after criticizing Pashinyan’s government. Asrian, previously among the signatories of a statement denouncing Pashinyan’s leadership, now faces similar uncertainty.
Pashinyan, facing mounting criticism for his handling of Armenia’s military affairs, pledged significant reforms following the country’s defeat in the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. However, his track record, including the replacement of three defense ministers, raises doubts about the effectiveness of his strategy.
Opposition groups hold Pashinyan accountable for the devastating outcome of the six-week war, which claimed the lives of thousands of Armenian soldiers and displaced over 100,000 Armenians from Artsakh. They argue that his administration’s efforts to rebuild the armed forces have been inadequate, exacerbating Armenia’s vulnerability on the regional stage.
