Turkey stands behind Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, said the ARF Dashnaktsutyun representative Gegham Manukyan during a rally on Freedom Square in Yerevan on Thursday.

He recalled that the Turkish Foreign Minister opposed the attempt to forcefully seize power in Armenia and throughout the world. 

“The statement of the General Staff of Armenia was the first to condemn the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and then another statement with condemnation appeared. Nikol's help came from Turkey,” he added.

The Armenian army joint staff on Thursday issued a statement noting that the army demands the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan and his government. The statement was signed by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, his deputies, heads of departments, and commanders of all corps.

The Armenian army has expressed its resolute protest over the dismissal of the First Deputy Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces General Staff.

At the suggestion of the PM, President Armen Sarkissian had dismissed Tiran Khachatryan, who had reportedly mocked PM's words about the alleged flaw of the Russia-made Iskander missile systems.

Following the incident, the Armenian army noted that the PM and the government are no longer able to make proper decisions for the Armenian people.

After this statement, Nikol Pashinyan made a Facebook post, noting that he had signed the necessary documents to dismiss Onik Gasparyan, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces.

PM also noted that considered this statement a military coup attempt, and he urged his supporters to gather Republic Square in Yerevan.

Numerous political scientists and analysts, however, called the PM's aforesaid announcement an attempt to lead to civil strife and bloodshed.