Participation of the Prime Minister in the Service Does Not Constitute Intervention in Church Affairs, Says Galyan

The Minister of Justice has presented the progress of constitutional amendments. In a briefing with journalists, Justice Minister Surbhi Galyan emphasized that there is no interference in church affairs, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's participation in the service held at Hovhannisavank should not be viewed as a violation of constitutional order.

According to Galyan, the church does not fall under the concept of constitutional order, and the participation of any public official, including the Prime Minister, in the service is a personal initiative and not a state action. 'There is no interference in church affairs. It is the right of each citizen to decide whether to participate or not,' she stated.

The minister also urged to distinguish the personal cases of specific clergy from the institutional structure of the church's activities.

Regarding constitutional amendments, Surbhi Galyan informed that meetings of the Constitutional Council have become more frequent. She noted that a number of issues were put to a vote in the last meeting, and in the coming two weeks, a public awareness campaign will begin to present the approved formulations. The preamble and the first chapter have yet to be discussed.