Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 01.03.21:

  • The rumors about possible clashes intensified when it became known that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan would hold a rally on Monday in Yerevan, while an opposition Homeland Salvation Movement convened a rally at 6 pm on Baghramyan Avenue.

The situation in Armenia is tense as Armenian President Armen Sarkissian had refused to fire the head of the country’s armed forces on Saturday, intensifying a standoff between Pashinyan and the army over what Pashinyan said was an attempted coup to remove him.

Pashinyan dismissed Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan on Thursday, but his sacking needed the formal approval of the president. According to the constitution, Sarkissian now has two choices: either to sign the decree or to challenge it in the Constitutional Court, for which he has time until tomorrow.

Following the latest developments, on Sunday afternoon, Nikol Pashinyan presented the agenda of his March 1 rally live on Facebook. Pashinyan did not hide that the march in memory of the victims of March 1 will actually be a demonstration of the people's support for his government. He also promised to address the question of whether the crime of March 1, 2008 has been revealed or not. At least 10 people were killed in clashes between the police and protesters in 2008 following disputed elections.

The current opposition described this step as an initiative of civil clashes, even leading to the new March 1.

Participants demanded the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, express their full support to the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

An unprecedented number of police troops have been concentrated at Republic Square in Yerevan. Armenian News- NEWS.am’s correspondent reports that the police have paved the way for Nikol Pashinyan to pass.

Since yesterday, the presses, Telegram channels and social networks have been spreading information according to the which the authorities have been actively using administrative resources to make sure there are masses at Nikol Pashinyan’s rally. According to information, regional authorities were assigned to ensure maximum participation of the regions’ populations through village heads and school principals. During conversations with media outlets, citizens from provinces admitted that they had been brought in buses. Some protesters even noted that they had been taken to the buses to take part in the meeting in support of Pashinyan.

Certain state bodies of Armenia reprtedly agreed to the arrival of Turkish journalists, but the Russian side was against it.

Meanwhile, Lifenews wrote that a group of 13 Turkish special forces crossed the Armenian border through Georgia and is now in Armenia. According to the source, this group should coordinate and directly participate in the process of dismissing Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan and other key generals. The Armenian national security service has denied the reports.

  • A sitting of the Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was held Monday - the external and internal security challenges were discussed. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan and President Armen Sarkissian did not take part in the sitting.

The President's Office clarified that Sarkissian was invited to the sitting of the Security Council, but did not participate in the sitting due to health issues.

After the meeting, the Security Council issued a statement calling on the President to comply with the Prime Minister's motion to dismiss the Chief of General Staff and to sign a decree submitted by PM Pashinyan.

Shortly afterward, the Security Council released an edited version of the text. The first version stated that the Armenian President was not obliged to oppose the PM’s proposal to dismiss the Chief of General Staff, while the edited version, noted that the president has a discretionary alternative authority to dismiss the chief of staff.

  • Meanwhile, ruling My Step MP Vahagn Hovakimyan has hinted that it is possible that their faction will initiate the process of ousting Armen Sarkissian on the grounds of gross violation of the Constitution.

The opposition described Hovakimyan's statement as a threat.

  • By the way, a remarkable turn took place in the history of Russia-made Iskander, which caused all this internal political tension. Nikol Pashinyan, who questioned the efficiency of Iskander changed his opinion after a phone talk with Vladimir Putin. According to his spokesman Mane Gevorgyan, the PM came to the conclusion that he had not been properly informed about the situation.

There is no doubt about the fact that Russian weapons are among the best in the world, the spokesperson noted quoting the PM.

  • President Armen Sarkissian and PM Nikol Pashinyan met Monday.

The sides met amid Sarkissian’s health issues. The two also reflected on the political situation in the country.

“Other reports being disseminated are absolutely false and an attempt to further aggravate the already tense situation," the president's office added.