Political Attempts Made to Undermine the Role of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Its Historical Value in the Life of the Armenian People: Arman Tatoyan

Today, near the Sardarapat Memorial, police in black berets and red berets have removed the crosier of Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, the leader of the Artsakh Diocese (an episcopal emblem with an image of the Holy Virgin), pulled at the clergymen, and displayed disrespect towards His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II and the spiritual leaders.

This was reported by former Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan. “After these disgraceful acts, false information is being spread through media outlets affiliated with the authorities, claiming that the Supreme Patriarch went to the Sardarapat Memorial at that time for provocative purposes. In reality, it was planned that the Supreme Patriarch would visit the Sardarapat Memorial around 14:30 after the Divine Liturgy, as yesterday the Government informed the Mother See that the official government visit was scheduled for this morning, around 10-11 o’clock. First, the police did not allow the Catholicos to enter the memorial parking lot by car, which forced the Supreme Patriarch and other clergy members to approach on foot, during which they encountered police barriers that restricted their movement. At that time, they tried to clarify the reason for the obstruction, to which the police replied they were unaware. Instead, they allowed the aforementioned condemnable behavior to take place.

What occurred today clearly demonstrated that the attack on the Catholicos in Kndevank in July 2018, the blocking of his vehicle, and threats with stones are of the same nature as what happened today; merely, individuals in civilian clothes were replaced by those in police uniforms. Through this means, a political attempt is being made to undermine the role of the Armenian Apostolic Church and its historical, exceptional value in the life of the Armenian people,” noted Tatoyan.