ARF Bureau condemns actions of Armenian authorities and reaffirms  support for Catholicos of All Armenians and Armenian Apostolic Church

ArmInfo. The Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun (ARF) condemned the actions taken by the Armenian authorities and  reaffirmed its full support for the Armenian Apostolic Church and His  Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.  This was stated in  a statement published on the party's Facebook page in connection with  the first hearing of the criminal case against the Catholicos of All  Armenians.

The political party called the persecution and attacks against the  Armenian Apostolic Church a shameful act in the history of the  Armenian people, without historical precedent. "The systematic  persecution and targeted attack against the Armenian Apostolic Church  (AAC) by the ruling regime has crossed all red lines. As part of an  illegally initiated criminal case, a lawsuit has been initiated  against the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,  Karekin II, as well as several high-ranking clergy. For centuries,  the AAC has been and remains the unshakable pillar of the spiritual,  national, and cultural identity of the Armenian people. It has led  our people through the most difficult trials, preserving our Holy  Faith, national identity, language, and centuries-old values," the  party recalled.

The ARF Bureau emphasized that the actions of the Armenian  authorities, directed against the authority of the Church and its  spiritual mission, are unconstitutional and anti-national. The  political force noted that this grossly undermines the constitutional  principle of separating relations between the state and the Church,  tramples on the rights of thousands of believers to freedom of  conscience and spiritual dignity, deepens social divisions, weakens  the foundations of our national identity, and exposes state and  public life to new upheavals.

"As faithful sons of the Armenian Apostolic Church, we condemn the  illegal actions taken by the authorities and, with unwavering  confidence, reaffirm our full support for the Armenian Apostolic Holy  Church and the Catholicos of All Armenians. We call on the judicial  and law enforcement systems to act exclusively within the framework  of the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia and not to  succumb to political pressure and intrigue.

Issues of diocesan governance, as well as canon law and internal  church procedures, are solely within the Church's jurisdiction, and  any interference in them is unacceptable.

We appeal to our compatriots, guided by national identity and the  principles of solidarity, to preserve national unity and rally around  the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, its spiritual mission, and the  Catholicos of All Armenians," the party concluded.

As a reminder, since May 2025, the Armenian authorities have been  actively pursuing an anti-church policy and are seeking the  resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, who is elected  to this position for life. This campaign has targeted both clergy and  citizens who support the Church.

In February of this year, the Armenian Prosecutor's Office opened a  criminal case against Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, and he  is prohibited from leaving the country. The case is based on charges  of obstructing the execution of a judicial decision related to the  defrocking of Arman Saroyan. Khachatur Galstyan has been appointed  prosecutor in the criminal case. Several other high-ranking clergy  are also involved in the case. The first hearing in the criminal case  against the Catholicos of All Armenians is scheduled for August 7 at  4:00 PM and will be held in the Armavir Regional Court of General  Jurisdiction, presided over by Judge Hakob Manukyan.