Church in Armenia urges to stop illegal actions against Karapetyan

The Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) on Tuesday, June 17, called for an end to illegal actions against the head of the Tashir Group of companies and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan.

"We strongly condemn this persecution, which is clearly motivated by political motives," the AAC wrote on its website.

The message also says that the Armenian Apostolic Church calls on the authorities of the Republic of Armenia to "immediately stop illegal actions."

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On the same day, it was reported that Karapetyan was being tried to be detained for speaking out in support of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It was clarified that Interior Ministry officers arrived at Karapetyan's house immediately after he made a statement in defense of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In May, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan began actively criticizing the Armenian Apostolic Church and accused Catholicos Garegin II, the first hierarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, of violating celibacy, calling on him to leave office. The Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Orthodox Church issued a statement saying that the Prime Minister had launched "another campaign" against the church, "putting himself above the law," with language and accusations "unbecoming of a statesman."

Karapetyan then stated that a "small group of people" had launched attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church, forgetting the "thousand-year history" of the country. He added that he "has always been close to the Armenian Church" and promised to take a "direct part" in this situation.