Identity Check for Citizens: After Collecting Information, They Will Be Arrested and Labeled as Terrorists, Says Father Hovhannes

Yes, Azerbaijan must allow us to go to Dadivank, and the sad thing is that we agree to this. This was stated today in an interview with Tert.am by Father Hovhannes Khachatryan, the spiritual leader of the Martakert region.

Father Hovhannes did not want to say much, but according to him, the security of Armenians is naturally at risk. “They will check the identity of citizens, family members, husbands, fathers, where they fought, what positions and medals they have. This entire information will be gathered, they will allow passage, then they will arrest them and claim that they have captured terrorists. This is the entire issue, and our authorities do not understand this,” he said.

The priest noted that there is currently no specific archpriest at Dadivank, but there are clergymen serving on a rotation basis.

It should be reminded that since the territories of Artsakh passed to the enemy, access for Armenians to Dadivank has only been permitted on Sundays, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers. Now, the names of pilgrims will also be submitted to Azerbaijan. This was previously announced by the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church's Artsakh diocese, Bishop Varthanesh Abrahamyan, who reported that the Azerbaijani side had prohibited a group of pilgrims from entering the monastery complex, citing that henceforth, nominal lists of pilgrims must be provided.