STEPANAKERT. – President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR; Artsakh), Bako Sahakyan, on Monday signed a decree on relieving Lieutenant General Movses Hakobyan from the position of the NKR Minister of Defense and Commander of the NKR Defense Army.
With another presidential decree, Lieutenant General Levon Mnatsakanyan has been appointed to the aforesaid positions.
Sahakyan also signed a decree on awarding Hakobyan with the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Order for his exclusive services rendered to Artsakh.
The President on Wednesday visited the NKR Ministry of Defense, and introduced the new defense minister to the command staff of the army.
President Sahakyan also extended his appreciation to the now former defense minister for the extensive work he carried out. Sahakyan stressed that combat-readiness of the NKR Defense Army reached a new level, and numerous matters were resolved under Hakobyan’s command.
Sahakyan noted with certainty that Movses Hakobyan will continue using his rich track-record and knowledge in his new and accountable position as Deputy Chief of Armenia’s General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The NKR President, speaking about Levon Mnatsakanyan, qualified him as one of the most experienced generals with a profound knowledge, with authority and respect in the army, and who has shown his worth in all positions he has assumed.
Commander-in-Chief of the NKR armed forces expressed confidence that Mnatsakanyan will work with the same zeal as Artsakh’s Defense Minister and Defense Army commander, directing all his skills and abilities toward strengthening the army and steadily raising its efficiency.
The Minister of Defense of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, and several other officials also attended this meeting.