April 18, 2026
On April 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia made another purchase from Gevorg Aghabalyan PJ under the one-person purchase procedure without a tender. The price of the contract is 13 million 200,000 drams. With this amount, the individual entrepreneur will provide a concept and technical support service within the framework of the “Yerevan Dialogue” international conference on May 5-6.
Last year, within the framework of the same event, the MFA made a purchase both from Gevorg Aghabalyan Private Equity and from his wife “Mariam Abgaryan Hovsep” Private Equity. By the way, he made the purchase on the same day, June 5. The Ministry signed a contract with Mariam Abgaryan Hovsep’s private enterprise for the price of 10 million 168.070 drams, and with her husband – for 6 million 852.252 drams.
In 2024, within the framework of the same event, the spouses signed 3 more contracts with private individuals: the price of the contract signed with MARIAM ABGARYAN HOVSEP JSC on August 8 was 73 million 678,660 drams, and the price of the contract signed with Gevorg Aghabalyan JSC on the same day was 51 million 924,455 drams.
Later, in October, another contract was signed with Mariam Abgaryan again within the framework of the “Yerevan Dialogue”, this time worth 23,598,715.
About these private companies that sign many contracts worth millions of drams with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other state departments.
It is said that in the days of the revolution of 2018, Gevorg Aghabalyan provided a free stage during the rallies of the Republic Square in order to support the movement led by Nikol Pashinyan. Perhaps it is also for this reason that Gevorg Aghabalyan LLC, which received state registration in 2008 (Mariam Abgaryan Hovsep LLC, registered in 2019), appears in the state procurement system after 2019.
By the way, in March, Gevorg Aghabalyan republished on his Facebook page the post of RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, in which he thanked for having an honorable place in the CP election list.
—
168: Pashinyan is part of Epstein’s Coalition of Child Abusers with Kind Smiles. Wow!
April 18, 2026
Nikol Pashinyan is part of the “Epsteinian coalition”, he symbolizes the violation of order not only in Armenia, but also in the world, and with his speeches he repeats the anti-Armenian and racist texts of Erdogan and Taleat. 168 TVof Revue gave such an assessment on the air of the program director of documentary films, human rights defender Hovhannes Ishkhanyanexpressing his opinion about Nikol Pashinyan’s yesterday in the National Assembly noisy speech and about calling opposition voters “dogs and shangyal”.
The human rights defender puts forward a very remarkable point of view, noting that Nikol Pashinyan, with his behavior and actions, essentially symbolizes the current world trends – the violation of world order and the subordination of law to brute force.
According to Ishkhanyan, “the world order is imprisoned in the prisons of Baku”, that is what the imprisonment of the military-political leadership of Artsakh, self-determined by international law, means.
«This guy says the racist and anti-Armenian texts of Erdoğan-Taleat here, and this does not only apply to Armenians. Isn’t he handing over the Kurds, isn’t he handing over Iran through that “Zangezur Corridor”? Artsakh was a self-determined state unit through the development of democracy, but it handed over to Aliyev. And this boy symbolizes the violation of order not only in Armenia, but also in the world. “Epstein’s coalition” they say, they are part of that “Epstein’s coalition”, child abusers with kind smiles.
Who did America hit first in Iran: school students? The collapse of international law was carried out by this “Epsteinian coalition”, and what we Armenians have to do here seems like a very small thing, getting rid of Nikol, but in fact it is a very important work contributing to the development of the planet Earth. Our military-political hostages, who are imprisoned in Baku prisons, are participants in the restoration of world order. The world order is imprisoned in Azerbaijan“, comments Hovhannes Ishkhanyan.
The human rights defender referred to another statement of Nikol Pashinyan today: “If the people decide that I should stand under the wall of shooting, I will stand silently under the wall of shooting.”
In response, the human rights defender reminds that the death penalty has been abolished in Armenia, and justice is decided by the courts in Armenia. “Since Nikol Pashinyan is a constitutional violator and does not know that Armenia is a legal state, the death penalty has been abolished in Armenia. it was abolished in 2001, when Armenia joined the Council of Europe, because it is not aware of this, let me say that in Armenia it cannot stand under the wall of shooting, because there is no death penalty in Armenia, this is one thing, secondly, in Armenia it is not the people who decide who should be tried, but the bodies that carry out justice professionally and through skills are created through the vote of the people.
I hope that the KP will finally understand that democracy is not the decision of the people, but rather the creation of mechanisms of counterbalances, the biggest enemy of which is the KP. There is no absolute counterbalance. They do whatever they want, starting with the Institute of Human Rights and ending with the Prosecutor’s Institute. Today, the CP itself chooses a Human Rights Defender. This did not become an independent body, this did not become a body that does not depend on the government, and democracy is the creation of counterweights in these issues, where the people’s vote is essential, but the people are direct participants in the settlement of other issues, not saying, “Take Pashinyan, shoot him under the wall.” Who are you to say that? We have courts for that, and there is no death penalty in Armenia»։
Let’s remind that today, April 18, during the Government’s briefing, Nikol Pashinyan said in response to a journalist’s question: “Whenever the RA people decide that I should leave, I will leave. I became Prime Minister through the revolution and naturally I have always recognized and still recognize the right of the people of the Republic of Armenia to make a revolution. If the people decide that I should stand under the wall of shooting, I will stand silently under the wall of shooting.”
Full interview in the video.
—
Armenian lawmaker says constitutional reform agenda ‘entirely domestic’, not l
A senior Armenian lawmaker representing the ruling Civil Contract party reiterated on Saturday that the authorities’ intention to call for a constitutional referendum has nothing to do with Azerbaijan’s demands.
MP Artur Hovhannisyan, the Civil Contract faction secretary in parliament, told reporters that the current Armenian government has promoted the idea of a new constitution since 2019.
“The issue of adopting a new constitution is entirely a domestic agenda of Armenia,” he said.
Azerbaijani officials have been saying that Armenia needs to change its Constitution in order to achieve a final peace.
Hovhannisyan said that Armenia does not set any preconditions for signing the already initialed peace deal with Azerbaijan, as that would lead to a deadlock.
“The issue of the return of captives, as well as the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the territory of Armenia, can be resolved in conditions of peace, and we will proceed with this agenda, which we have repeatedly stated. We are not setting any preconditions, because setting preconditions is essentially a path leading to a deadlock and means failing to resolve the issues,” Hovhannisyan said.
Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed a peace agreement in Washington on August 8, 2025. Following this, the Azerbaijani side stated that it would sign the peace agreement with Armenia once Armenia changes its Constitution, claiming that Armenia’s Constitution contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
The Armenian authorities have repeatedly denied Baku’s claims that Armenia’s Constitution contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan. At the same time, a new draft Constitution is under development, which, according to the Pashinyan administration, has nothing to do with Azerbaijani demands and is driven by the need for reforms.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
Speaker Simonyan meets Armenian patriarch in Istanbul
Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan, within the framework of his visit to Istanbul for the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, visited the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and met with Patriarch Sahag II.
“The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople addressed recent confrontations over the past year between some clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and representatives of the Government of Armenia, expressing his concerns in that regard,” the Patriarchate said in a readout.
Archbishop Sahag II Mashalian expressed hope that “reconciliation and harmony will soon be reestablished between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Government of Armenia.”
The Patriarch also emphasized the “importance of ensuring the smooth development of relations between Türkiye and Armenia, the establishment and strengthening of diplomatic ties in the future, which would inspire peaceful coexistence and joint development among the peoples of the region.”
He also wished success to Speaker Simonyan in his “patriotic” activities.
According to the readout, Speaker Simonyan also expressed a desire to meet with representatives of the Turkish-Armenian press in Istanbul, and the meeting took place in the Patriarchate’s hall.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
Speaker of Parliament meets with representatives of mass media of Istanbul Arm
On April 18, the President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan met with the representatives of mass media after his visit to the Armenian Patriarchate of (Constantinople) Türkiye on the territory of the Patriarchate, the press service of the Parliament said.
The representatives of Zhamanak/Time, Marmara dailies, Agos weekly, Luis/Light Media TV Company, Paros journal, TET Ajanda electronic media participated in the meeting.
Simonyan presented details about the issues regarding the inner-political developments and foreign policy, also answering the questions of the Representatives of the mass media.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
HayPost: New postage stamp dedicated to Sport: XXV Winter Olympic Games
HayPost press release
On April 18th, 2026, one postage stamp dedicated to the theme “Sport: XXV Winter Olympic Games” has been put into circulation.
The postage stamp with the nominal value of 380 AMD depicts ski goggles, the Olympic rings, and snow-capped mountains.
The stamp also depicts the inscription “XXV WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES” in Armenian and English.
Date of issue: April 18, 2026
Designer: Vahagn Mkrtchyan
Printing house: bpost Philately & Stamps Printing, Belgium
Size: 40,0 x 30,0 mm
Stamps per sheet: 10 pcs
Print run: 10 000 pcs
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
IMF and Armenia reach agreement on first review of the Stand-By Arrangement
The IMF and the Armenian authorities have reached an agreement on the first review of the three-year Stand-By Arrangement, which Armenia continues to treat as a precautionary instrument aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability and ensuring sustainable economic growth, the Armenian Central Bank said in a press release.
The IMF prioritizes maintaining macroeconomic stability in Armenia through a combination of prudent fiscal and monetary policies.
At the same time, the IMF underscores the importance of vigilant financial sector supervision, continued strengthening of regulatory and supervisory frameworks, and readiness to respond to evolving risks stemming from external uncertainties.
These efforts are intended to support sustainable growth while reinforcing resilience against inflationary pressures, global financial tightening, and regional geopolitical shocks. The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, upon which Armenia will gain access to approximately additional USD 25.3 million. Reforms under the program will continue to support macroeconomic stability and promote long-term economic growth.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
614,000 people receive medical services under universal health insurance in fi
In Armenia, 614,000 people have received medical services under the Universal Health Insurance system, while 1.7 million citizens have been insured, the Universal Health Insurance Fund said, summarizing the first 100 days of the program’s rollout.
At an event marking the first 100 days, officials presented cooperation outcomes, beneficiary experiences, and the fund’s next steps.
Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan said that although every new program faces challenges, efforts to address them had begun prior to the system’s launch. She emphasized the introduction of digital solutions and efficient exchange of information as key elements of the sector’s multi-layered reform.
According to the minister, about 67,000 surgical interventions have been performed. The number of medication provision cases has reached approximately 480,000.
Avanesyan noted that a key objective of the system is to ensure access to medication for patients with chronic diseases, helping prevent complications and improve health outcomes.
Samvel Kharazyan, Acting Head of the Universal Health Insurance Fund, said that more than 1.5 million services were provided during the first 100 days, with medicines supplied and around 1.4 million prescriptions issued.
Karen Tsarukyan, Director of the National Oncology Center, said that while innovative systems initially face difficulties, the healthcare sector has the capacity to overcome them. He added that the main challenges have largely been addressed and citizens are already experiencing the system’s benefits.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
The Armenians of Athens, 1918
The Athenian newspaper, Ethnos published a speech from the President of the Armenian community in Athens, M. Nigoghosian which was given after mass to his compatriots in the Armenian Church on September 26th, 1918.
The name of the Armenian church, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, is not mentioned in the news article but it is known that it was founded in Athens in 1908.
A brief history of the Armenian presence in Greece will be provided as context for understanding the speech. The first significant Armenian community was established in Thessaloniki during the 1880s, which was then under Ottoman rule. The Greek historian, Ioannis K. Hasiotis states in his book on the Armenians in Greece: “Armenian political fugitives and activists sought refuge in Athens, Piraeus, and Crete during the first decade of the 20th century and shortly after the Armenian Genocide.” He continues that “after World War I, the Armenians in Thessaloniki, Athens, and Crete began to take serious political initiatives, first in order to publicize the Genocide of 1915 and after 1918 to welcome the refugees from Turkey.”
It should be noted the Armenian communities were small in number ranging from 300-400 to 1,500 members before the end of the Great War.
The speech praised Greece for allowing the Armenians to live in safety away from the clutches of the Ottoman State. Nigoghosian congratulated “the success of the [Greek] arms” up to that time and felt that the prayers offered by the Armenians were answered by the “Most High.” The Greek army along with its British and French allies had played an important role in the defeat of the Bulgarian army in Macedonia in September 1918.
The Armenians never forgot the Turks using the yataghan (a short Turkish sword) against them and that the “noble [Greek] people welcomed us with open arms.” The Turks massacred Armenians and robbed and looted their villages. These poor surviving souls were left “naked” and needed to find refuge. The Armenians of 1918 remembered the Hamidian massacres of 1895-96, Adana in 1909, and the massacres of 1915-18 at the hands of the Young Turks. The word massacre has been used instead of Genocide as the later term did not exist in 1918. Rafael Lemkin coined the term ‘genocide’ in 1944.
For the modest number of Armenians who came to Greece, they considered themselves fortunate to be welcomed in a country where they could begin new lives without facing persecution like they had experienced in neighboring Turkey. In Greece, the Armenians would be free to establish businesses, churches, schools, and newspapers, and to maintain their language and culture. Nigoghasian stated that in Greece, “we [Armenians] found the life-giving manna.”
The Greeks are referred to as a “noble people” who fought with courage to overthrow the Ottoman yoke a century earlier. They fought with tenacity and determination to achieve their independence. It seemed that Nigoghasian considered “the foundations of tyranny which constituted the misfortune of the East” could be squarely placed on the Ottoman Empire. He may have been happy to see its disappearance once and for all.
At the same time, Nigoghasian possibly hinted that his compatriots were striving to achieve their own independence. He mentioned that “on a third front, the heroic allied troops were [striking down] the walls of this tyranny [and against a] tyranny which [was considered unshakable].” This may have referred to the British military successes in Jerusalem and Syria in 1917-18 against the Ottoman army. In September 1918, with the capitulation of Bulgaria, the Ottoman government put out peace feelers to negotiate an armistice with Britain.
It should be noted that a small independent Armenian state had come into existence around Yerevan in May 1918.
Nigoghasian described the Ottomans as “the wild beast” who would pay for the crimes they committed against his compatriots. The day of reckoning was at hand and he hoped that the Turks would eventually face judgment and punishment for their hideous crimes. “It is the first ray of the dawn of Freedom, after the long and stormy night of woes, and we greet it with unutterable joy,” Nigoghasian said. He believed that God would answer the prayers of the Armenians who had endured so much during the Great War and bless Greece for giving them a place of refuge. The eternal memories of the Armenian martyrs who had been massacred would never be forgotten.
“On this occasion,” he said, “let us cry out with one voice once more: Long live Venizelos. Long live Greece. Long live the Allies.” Nigoghasian praised the Greek premier, Eleftherios Venizelos and the allies on their military successes in the Balkans and Middle East theaters. Nigoghasian thanked Greece on behalf of his compatriots for allowing them “to take refuge in this hospitable country” in the midst of a global conflict.
It would be interesting to see how Nigoghasian might have viewed the political schism between King Constantine and Venizelos. One can assume that he opposed the former, who was a Germanophile, whereas the latter supported the Anglo-French alliance. Germany and the Ottoman Empire were enemies of the Armenian people. A united Greece under Venizelos eventually joining the Anglo-French offered hope to the Armenians at the end of hostilities.
Besides offering prayers and “the _expression_ of gratitude to our benefactors,” the Armenian community could contribute to the Greek war effort. This could be achieved financially and by Armenians volunteering to join the Greek army. Nigoghasian knew that the Armenian financial contribution would be a small one but might be viewed positively by the Greeks.
In conclusion, Nigoghasian showed his appreciation for his compatriots being granted refuge in Greece and praised the military successes of the Greek and Anglo-French arms against its foes.
—
The unprecedented campaign against the church in the world’s oldest Christian
Driving towards the ancient Armenian city of Vagharshapat, it is impossible to miss the snow-capped peaks of Mount Ararat dominating the horizon under a cloud-washed azure. Set against the backdrop of the “Holy Mountain” — where Noah’s Ark is believed to have rested after the Great Flood — lies the rock on which the world’s oldest Christian country was built.
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was constructed in 301 AD, two centuries after two disciples of Jesus — the apostles Jude and Bartholomew — introduced Christianity to the country.
Armenia is heralded as the first civilisation on Earth to adopt Christianity as a state religion, and despite the country being ruled for most of its existence by a succession of foreign empires — including Persian, Byzantine, Arab, Mongol, Ottoman and Soviet powers — the Church today stands as a spiritual covenant for Armenia’s three million inhabitants and 10 million-strong diaspora.
Walking into the medieval temple of St Gregory the Illuminator — a Unesco World Heritage Site that features a museum displaying liturgical treasures, pearl vestments and a piece of wood from the True Cross — gives you a sense of how devoted the Armenian people are to their faith. Now, 1,700 years after Christianity was woven into the fabric of Armenian society, the Church faces a reckoning — this time from within.
Over the past decade, tensions between the Armenian Government and the Church have escalated into a tense stand-off, with officials threatening legal action against Christian ministers and political opponents. At the heart of this crisis lies an unprecedented demand from Armenia’s liberal prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan: a revised ecclesiastical charter to dethrone the Catholicos of All Armenians for the first time in nearly 100 years.
“Armenia is at a very important crossroads from (a) historical point of view,” says Aram Vardevanyan, a board member of a new opposition party called Strong Armenia. Speaking from the party’s headquarters in the capital Yerevan, Mr Vardevanyan said it was “absurd” how Government officials were treating clergymen, adding: “This is in comparison (to) the president of France or any other country, the society of which is predominantly Catholic, (demanding) the resignation of the Roman Pope.”
Shortly after assuming office in 2018, Mr Pashinyan insisted the Government had no right to meddle in the “Church’s internal issues”. The former journalist appeared to change his tune when he removed the Church’s history from Armenia’s national curriculum as part of a broader push for secular education.
A major escalation occurred in 2020 following Armenia’s defeat in the 44-day War with Azerbaijan. Three years later, following a lightning offensive by the Azerbaijani military in 2023 — which resulted in 120,000 Armenians fleeing their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave that was governed by ethnic Armenians under the breakaway Republic of Artsakh — the Catholicos, Karekin II, joined calls from various political factions for the PM to resign.
Things came to a head in 2024 when a high-ranking Church figure led the “Tavush for the Homeland” — one of Armenia’s most intense protest movements since the end of the Cold War. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the head of the Diocese of Tavush, urged university students to boycott classes, while citizens were ordered to “engage in peaceful acts of disobedience” over Mr Pashinyan efforts to demarcate the Armenia–Azerbaijan border.
Last year, during a landmark meeting hosted by Donald Trump in Washington, Mr Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s President, signed a historic agreement aimed at reopening key transit routes and expanding energy trade. Nevertheless, the Church accused Mr Pashinyan of failing to secure the right of return for refugees displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and “revising national narratives” by removing an image of Mount Ararat from its passport stamps to satisfy Turkey, a close ally of Baku. His administration also stated the international recognition of the 1915 Genocide that killed up to 1.5 million people is “not our number one priority”, opting instead to establish economic ties with Ankara.
When diplomatic talks were brokered by the White House, the Armenian Government began detaining several priests — including Archbishop Galstanyan — charged with orchestrating what Mr Pashinyan called a “sinister plan” to stage a coup d’état with the help of two former presidents — Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. Meanwhile, Mr Pashinyan ordered bishops to remove any references to the Catholicos and primates from the Divine Liturgy.
Growing authoritarianism is not just a problem affecting Armenia’s religious leaders: social media users are continuing to be questioned or purged by police under “online hooliganism” laws to clamp down on dissent. One Armenian native, who spoke to the People’s Channel on the condition of anonymity, commented: “We live in a frightened society where people cannot talk.”
A human rights barrister said ordinary Armenians were being sentenced “just for criticising the Government” and branded the charges being pressed on clerics “a mockery against law”.
She told Britain’s News Channel: “A lot of this repression started with legitimate criticism of the way Mr Pashinyan handled the conflict and the forced deportations of people in the (Nagorno-Karabakh) region.”
Mr Pashinyan has used various lines of attack to defend his relentless campaign against the Church.
He has accused multiple monks of having sexual affairs in breach of their vows of celibacy. Mr Pashinyan then labelled the Church a “national security threat” over its purported financial ties to the Kremlin and members’ alleged ties to the KGB, although he has not provided proof.
But Doctor of Political Science Arsen Gasparyan, a former senior adviser to Mr Pashinyan and Director of Projects at the Genesis Armenia think-tank, accused the PM of fuelling a culture of “anger and indifference” by pivoting Armenia towards the West in the ambitious hope of joining the European Union but failing to address issues closer to home, including high rates of poverty. “People are depressed,” he added.
The row threatens to divide public opinion even more going into this year’s general election, scheduled for June 7, in what Dr Gasparyan dubbed a “referendum on national survival”.
Some analysts predict it could be Armenia’s tightest electoral race since independence was declared in 1991, with Armenian-Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan launching Strong Armenia to take on Mr Pashinyan’s party, Civil Contract.
The property and electricity tycoon — who is listed on Forbes’ rich list with an estimated wealth of $4billion (£3billion) and is one of the largest benefactors of the Church — has been plastered on just about every billboard and bus stop in Yerevan. Despite being the face of Strong Armenia, Mr Karapetyan is currently on trial for suspected tax evasion, money laundering and “making public calls for the seizure of power”.
Mr Karapetyan denies any wrongdoing and says he is acting “in his own way” to stop Armenian Christians being persecuted by the state. His nephew Narek said Mr Karapetyan was held “in a KGB basement and now he’s under house arrest”, saying of Strong Armenia’s mission: “The idea is to change the leadership in our country to a more democratic one based on national values.”
Mr Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia currently polls second behind Mr Pashinyan’s Civil Contract, according to a February survey by the International Republican Institute. But yesterday, anti-corruption authorities detained a further 14 suspects connected to Strong Armenia on suspicion of electoral bribery, less than two months before voters cast their ballots.
It was not immediately clear if all those taken into custody were parliamentary candidates.
In an interview with GB News a fortnight before the raid, Mr Vardevanyan said, win or lose, Strong Armenia will continue to defend the Church and campaign for stronger international relations “from the perspective of Armenia’s interests”.
He said: “Throughout our history, there were times when we were deprived of our independence (and) sovereignty, and the Armenian Apostolic Church was the anchor (and) protector of Armenian lives.
“I believe the government cannot intervene in the actions of the Church, because this is what religious freedom requires… zero tolerance towards the Government’s intervention in the internal affairs of the Church.
“We want strong peace, but for that you have to have the political will and the means for ensuring it, and the last few years have shown the ruling party doesn’t have the necessary tools for this.”
Earlier this month, Mr Pashinyan published Civil Contract’s draft pre-election programme, which states the ideological basis of his party is one of “Real Armenia” that saw his administration and Azerbaijan drop mutual territorial claims.
In spite of Mr Pashinyan’s self-declared achievements, increasing attention is being paid to his pre-emptive catalyst against conservative opposition: “We returned the state to the people,” Mr Pashinyan said.
“Now we must return the Church to the people.”
The events unfolding in the South Caucasus have not gone unnoticed in the West: the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has urged Mr Pashinyan to stop his “suppression” of the Church, while Human Rights Watch has highlighted “serious human rights concerns” involving activists and journalists in Armenia.
The UK Government recently announced it “is monitoring the situation” in Armenia and Reform UK Danny Kruger told The Times: “I can only pray that (Mr) Pashinyan decides to change his mind and reconciles with the Armenian Church.”
Defending his actions against the Church, Mr Pashinyan told the European Parliament: “Some clergymen, who cynically violated all the rules of spiritual good conduct, have assumed leadership of the war party. Some are using the altar of Christ to preach conflict, war and intra-Armenian violence — this cannot be tolerated in any democratic country.”
Allies of Karekin II told GB News the supreme head has no intention of leaving his pontifical residence because Mr Pashinyan has no jurisdiction over the Church under Armenia’s constitution.
One senior bishop told the People’s Channel: “The Catholicos is happy to work with the Government… (but) the only person he fears is Him (God); people have continuously laid their lives for the Church, and so will he.”
A spokesman for the Church’s governing Supreme Spiritual Council added. “Emphasising the imperative of respecting and protecting the Church’s rights and autonomy, as well as the principles of justice and democracy, we condemn these arbitrary and discriminatory actions.”
—