‘Searching for the Director of the Shirak Diocese’: Letter from the State Revenue Committee Filled with Errors

The letter addressed to the leader of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, by the State Revenue Committee (SRC) has caused both anger and surprise among many today. The letter was authored by Arman Ghazaryan, the head of the SRC's non-profit organization oversight department.

The letter states: “Dear Mr. Ajapahyan, according to Article 18, Part 1, Clause 3 of the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Armenia, the organization is obliged to provide the SRC (hereinafter the Authorized Body) with copies of decisions made by its governing bodies or other documents regarding its activities within a reasonable time upon a substantiated request to verify compliance with the requirements of the same law. Considering the above and the absence of documents regarding the ‘Armenian Apostolic Church Shirak Diocese’ at the State Register of Legal Entities of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, we kindly request the prompt submission of the aforementioned organization’s charter to the SRC.

Arman Ghazaryan from the SRC is searching for Mr. Gevorg Ajapahyan, supposedly the director of the ‘Armenian Apostolic Church Shirak Diocese,’ who is, in fact, the leader of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan. The Archbishop has responded to the mentioned letter and posted on his Facebook page: ‘Dear ones, Arman Ghazaryan, the head of the SRC’s non-profit organization oversight department, is searching for Mr. Gevorg Ajapahyan, the director of the Armenian Apostolic Church Shirak Diocese, who resides at Mayissyan Uprising St. 1 in the city of Gyumri, Shirak region. I request your assistance in finding this person.’