First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tiran Khachatryan has been relieved of his duties.

President Armen Sarkissian signed the decree on Wednesday, February 24, after receiving a proposal from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Earlier, Khachatryan reportedly dismissed Pashinyan's claims that an Iskander missile bought by the former authorities had not properly exploded during the recent military hostilities with Azerbaijan. According to Terevan.Today, the former Deputy Chief of the General Staff even laughed at the suggestion that such a thing is possible.

The Armenian Defense Ministry later denied, however, that Khachatryan has laughed at Pashinyan's statement. "In the article, the journalist has obviously not laid down the content of the telephone conversation and has, in fact, distorted it, causing misunderstanding among readers, which can be described as information provocation," the Defense Ministry said.

Khachatryan was awarded the title of the National Hero of Armenia in fall 2020. The highest title in Armenia is awarded "for outstanding services of national importance to the Republic of Armenia in defense and strengthening of the state system and creation of important national values."