Armenia Withdraws Honorary Consul from Yekaterinburg, Media Reports

The Armenian government is withdrawing its honorary consul Narek Spartakyan from Yekaterinburg, as reported by Russian media outlets.

According to the reports, the reason for this decision is that Spartakyan disagrees with the Armenian leadership's stance towards the Armenian Apostolic Church and the detention of businessman Samvel Karapetyan.

In a conversation with a correspondent, Spartakyan mentioned that he has lived in Yekaterinburg and will continue to do so. He also promised to do everything necessary for the residents of Sverdlovsk and the Armenian community, even without the title of honorary consul.

"I find any action against the Armenian Apostolic Church unacceptable, as it is a vital foundation for the spiritual unity of the entire Armenian nation," Spartakyan stated.

Regarding Karapetyan's detention, he noted that, like all Armenians, he has great respect for him, as Karapetyan is a vivid example of how to build and create.

Spartakyan grew up in Yekaterinburg and graduated from the Ural Federal University named after Yeltsin. He previously worked in the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Sverdlovsk Region. Spartakyan was appointed as honorary consul in 2018.