Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: The behavior exhibited by the law  enforcement officers at the spiritual center of all  Armenians-particularly the use of force against citizens-is  deplorable and unacceptable

ArmInfo. The behavior exhibited by the law enforcement officers at the spiritual center of all  Armenians-particularly the use of force against citizens-is deplorable and unacceptable, as noted in a statement by the press office of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin regarding the situation around Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan.

" On the morning of June 27, law enforcement bodies of the Republic  of Armenia entered the premises of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin  and the Catholicosate residence, attempting to arrest Archbishop  Mikael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese. The Archbishop had  arrived at the Mother See to serve as coordinator of the annual  clergy assembly.

Even though Archbishop Mikael had expressed his willingness to go to  the Investigative Committee and was attempting to enter a vehicle  with law enforcement representatives, the citizens and clergy present  raised their voices in protest upon witnessing a large influx of  masked officers from the National Security Service and the police.   The behavior exhibited by the law enforcement officers at the  spiritual center of all Armenians- particularly the use of force  against citizens-is deplorable and unacceptable.  Despite not being  properly notified, Archbishop Mikael has decided not to evade the  presented demand and will travel to Yerevan to appear before the  Investigative Committee.  The Mother See urges the people not to  succumb to provocations, to remain vigilant, and to continue their  support by all legal means," the statement says.