ASALA Calls on Armenians to Adopt a Unified Stance on Patriarchal Election in Constantinople

The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) has issued a statement highlighting that the Turkish authorities' advance prohibition on the patriarchal elections in Constantinople (Istanbul)—which allows only pro-Turkish citizens to be elected—has led to unprecedented restrictions. Even the candidacy of individuals who are citizens of Turkey but perform their ecclesiastical duties outside the country has been banned.

This new arbitrary measure has reduced the number of candidates for the patriarch from 12 to 2, signifying a forceful subjugation by Turkey, effectively imposing an agreeable patriarch on the Armenian community of Constantinople and the entire Armenian Church.

The statement notes: “The Turkish authorities continue to tighten the noose of pressure around the small but influential Armenian community of Constantinople by interfering in the internal affairs of the Armenian Church. The advance prohibition set by Turkish authorities on the patriarchal elections (which states that only pro-Turkish citizens can be elected as patriarch) has created unprecedented restrictions—prohibiting even the candidacy of those who are citizens of Turkey but perform church services outside the country. This new arbitrary measure has reduced the number of patriarchal candidates from 12 to 2, meaning a forced subjugation by Turkey and the imposition of an agreeable patriarch on the Armenian community of Constantinople and the entire Armenian Church.”

In light of this reality, a significant portion of the Istanbul Armenian community is preparing to boycott the farcical “elections” scheduled for the 12th of the month, while another section closely tied to the conservative Turkish authorities or afraid of them is following their prescribed path.

This is not the first time Turkey has intervened in the elections of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. In 1950, a similar intervention by Ankara was met with a courageous stance by the then Catholicos of the Mother See, Gevorg VI. The late patriarch expressed in a telegram to the President of Turkey that such behavior by the Turkish authorities “means interfering in the internal affairs of the Armenian Church, which is unacceptable.” He also issued a stern warning that otherwise, “we would be forced to annul the patriarchal election and not endorse the elected candidate.” The impact of the patriarchal sternness was evident; the Turkish authorities at the time had to retreat from their intentions, and through free and fair elections, the most deserving candidate—Archeparch Garegin Khachatryan, head of the Diocese of South America—was elected as patriarch.

With these treacherous steps against the Armenian Church, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is attempting to solidify the crumbling foundations of his power while seeking to further divide the Armenian community of Constantinople and make it more manageable by minimizing the future role of the patriarchate in matters related to the Armenian community and Armenia.

It must be understood clearly that the patriarchal election in Constantinople is not merely a church matter but also a focal point of Armenian-Turkish confrontation in the coming decades. Therefore, the Republic of Armenia as an independent state, the Armenian diaspora, the Mother See operating in conditions of independent statehood, as well as other hierarchical sees must adopt a unified and decisive stance on this issue. Silence or conformity to Turkish impositions under various diplomatic pretexts equates to succumbing to the oppressive encroachments of Turkish authorities, who disregard even their own state laws and obligations before the international community.

The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia, as an organization fighting for the restoration of the rights and homeland of the Armenian people subjected to genocide, declares that the Armenian community of Constantinople and the brave remnants of the Armenian nation living in remaining parts of Turkey and occupied Western Armenia are not abandoned.