YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: The reasons for the sudden dismissal of Artak Davtyan from the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces on February 24 have not been officially announced.

One of Davtyan's close ones told us that Davtyan had earlier personally wanted to resign from office; he has complained to those close to him that they [i.e., the incumbent authorities] are destroying the [Armenian] army, but they held him hostage, so to speak threatening that if he opposes, criminal punishment awaits him. Davtyan told his close ones that they [i.e., the incumbent authorities] turned him into a ‘stand.’ Our interlocutor did not detail on what issue, insinuating that a criminal case is being prepared against Davtyan.

Let us remind that he has been charged in the [criminal] case of [ex-defense minister] Davit Tonoyan. A close one to Davtyan was claiming that after he was dismissed from the post of Chief of the General Staff [of the Armed Forces], he was offered another position, but he did not agree.

We did not manage to talk to Davtyan personally; he is unavailable after his dismissal. But it is obvious that they spread this news with his knowledge, which means that he may speak and voice his grievances in the near future.