Representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Russia have spoken out against the actions of the Yerevan authorities who are persecuting priests of the Apostolic Church. Those gathered outside the Armenian Embassy in Moscow called for the release of the detained priests, and also stated that the actions of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other politicians cause hostility among the people.
The interlocutor of the Regnum agency, Father Gevorg, stressed that such statements as the speech of the Armenian Church in Russia are an opportunity to somehow raise their voice, because it is difficult to do this in the republic itself. The current Armenian authorities arrest and imprison those who try to advocate for justice, for the foundations of the church, and for national and spiritual traditions, the priest said.
The clergyman noted that the current Armenian government is wantonly arresting and persecuting priests of the Apostolic Church in order to destroy the spiritual and moral values of the Armenian people. The Armenian Church in Russia called on not to succumb to the provocations of the republic's authorities and not to follow the malicious lies that are being told in the country, Father Gevorg said.
In recent months, Pashinyan has intensified his attacks on the Armenian Church. In May, he insulted the Armenian Apostolic Church on social media, and soon offered to transfer a crucial role to the state in the process of electing the Catholicos of All Armenians.
In June, Russian businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan was arrested in Armenia, who stood up for the Armenian Apostolic Church. The businessman was charged with calls to overthrow the government, he pleaded not guilty.
On October 22, at the government hour in the Armenian Parliament, Pashinyan stated that churches that had previously been donated to the church should be taken away from the Armenian Apostolic Church. He cited the medieval Hovhannavank monastery as an example.