MEDIA: French organization supporting Armenian authorities`  anti-church campaign

ArmInfo. The Armenian government is collaborating with foreign organizations as part of its anti-church campaign. The newspaper "Hraparak" writes about this, further developing the issue.

"A few days ago, a recording of a telephone conversation between  Archbishop Nathan and Father Agan was released. It is obvious that  the wiretapping was likely done by law enforcement agencies, possibly  the National Security Service," the newspaper writes.

"A detailed plan for disseminating information and communicating it  to the public was then developed, which, according to our  information, was implemented by the Equal Rights and Independent  Media (ERIM) company in conjunction with the RA government. The  government provided the necessary materials and resources, while the  company modeled the campaign. We were informed that after consulting  with the company's experts, the government concluded that to secure   the upcoming elections, it was first necessary to 'win over' the  Church, and this must be done before the pre-election stage.  Currently,  new materials are being  prepared for publication and   new steps are being developed," the source continues.

The newspaper notes that the Prime Minister's press secretary, Nazeli  Baghdasaryan, coordinates work with this company and the company's  deputy director, Flora Graioni, communicates directly with her. The  spokesperson reports to Arayik Harutyunyan. "This company will also  be implementing the Proelect project to 'combat disinformation'  during the parliamentary elections. We were also informed that, at  the government's request, the company will produce a film about the  Communist Party's struggle against the Church. This is Pashinyan's  personal idea. The film aims to show the public that the government  was provoked, and that such steps were initially initiated by  representatives of the Church."

Note that ERIM (formerly known as IREX Europe) is a non-profit  organization based in Lyon, France. It implements innovative projects  aimed at protecting human rights, strengthening independent media,  and civil society.

Note that on October 15, it was reported that a group of clergy from  the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church had been  detained. It was later revealed that the clergy were detained based  on a complaint filed by Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the "Union of  Informed Citizens" NGO, to the country's investigative authorities.  The complaint was filed in connection with an interview given on  September 16 by Aram Arakelyan, then the abbot of Hovhannavank  Monastery. Arakelyan stated on Public Television that he had been  forced to participate in opposition rallies in 2021.

A statement from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin announced the  detention of 13 clergy, as well as the diocesan treasurer and  accountant. Meanwhile, the Investigative Committee of Armenia  announced yesterday that it had arrested three individuals in  connection with a criminal case involving coercion to participate in  public meetings, obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights, and  theft of entrusted property on an especially large scale, and had  conducted a number of searches. It should be added that this is all  part of the anti-church campaign launched by the Armenian Prime  Minister against the Armenian Apostolic Church since May of this  year.