Threats and Calls for Violence Against the Pastor of the Sisian Church Are Unacceptable: Armenia’s Ombudsman

Threats and calls for violence against the pastor of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Sisian made by a group of individuals are absolutely unacceptable. This was stated in a release by the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.

The observation of the Ombudsman’s staff indicates that this same dangerous phenomenon has been recorded multiple times related to the spiritual leader of the Mother of God Church in Martuni and the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in the village of Nerk'in Getashen.

Such alarms have also been documented by the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia. This phenomenon poses systemic risks and any manifestations of it must be immediately prevented.

It is primarily dangerous from the perspective of tolerance and solidarity in society.

The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church has had an exceptional mission and continues to play a vital role in the life of the Armenian people and in the preservation of national identity. The role of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in the protection of human rights and the establishment of a climate of solidarity in the country has always been significant.

State authorities are obliged to take urgent measures to verify the information and to eliminate any possibility of tension or, moreover, any potential instances of violence.

I have just spoken with the Chief of the Police of Armenia, who assured me that the Police will take urgent necessary actions to prevent tension or violence and, in general, any act that exceeds the authority of the Police.