OSCE Secretary General promises assistance to  Armenian authorities  in removing  Catholicos of All Armenians

ArmInfo. OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu has reportedly pledged to assist Armenian authorities in removing Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.  This promise was made during a telephone conversation that he believed was with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"Feridun Sinirlioglu made a frank admission—thinking he was speaking  with Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan, he was actually in  communication with the pranksters Vovan and Lexus. The authorities  have initiated a genuine persecution of the Armenian Apostolic  Church, including the detention of clergy and the harassment of  dissenters. All of this is being done at the behest of the West," a  report by Channel One stated.

The Russian state broadcaster noted that the Russian Foreign  Intelligence Service had previously claimed that Brussels' ultimate  goal is the complete severance of the centuries-old spiritual ties  between Armenia and Russia. According to the report, the OSCE  Secretary General is prepared to assist in replacing the Catholicos.

 "— I also count on the OSCE's position that you can also support me  in this matter. — I will also take care of this. By the way, can you  do this? Can you replace the Catholicos? — And I think that now I  have trump cards in my hands, and we can change the religion. And all  I can ask of you is your support in cases where we face heavy  criticism from Karapetyan's allies. — Fine, I will do everything  possible," the OSCE Secretary General promised in the phone call with  the pranksters, a recording of which was released by Channel One.

Recall,  since May 2025, Armenian authorities have pursued an active  anti-church policy, seeking the resignation of Catholicos of All  Armenians Garegin II, who is elected to the position for life. As  part of this campaign, members of the clergy and citizens who support  the Church have been subjected to persecution.  To date, four  high-ranking clergy members are imprisoned on fabricated charges as  part of this campaign.  Furthermore, the Armenian Prime Minister and  ten schismatic bishops have signed a framework document regarding the  so-called "renewal" of the Armenian Church.

It is worth noting that under the Constitution, Armenia is a secular  state where the church is separate from the state. At the same time,  the "exclusive mission" of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) in  preserving national identity is recognized.