YEREVAN. – Lieutenant General Lyova Mnatsakanyan, who has been relieved of his duties as Deputy Chief of Armenia’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, confirmed the news about his being appointed Commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) Defense Army (NKR DA).

Mnatsakanyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that once he is formally appointed to this position, he will move to the NKR together with his family. He added, however, he himself will be in Artsakh on Wednesday morning.

“We are military personnel; we shall serve wherever they order,” Mnatsakanyan said. “We are fulfilling our duty.”

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Monday signed а decree whereby Lieutenant General Lyova Mnatsakanyan is discharged from his duties as Deputy Chief of Armenia’s General Staff of the Armed Forces. 

With another presidential decree, NKR DA Commander and Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Movses Hakobyan, is appointed Deputy Chief of Armenia’s General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Earlier, the press wrote that Lyova Mnatsakanyan will be appointed as the NKR DA Commander and Minister of Defense.