Head of the European office of ARF calls on Kaja Kallas to visit  Mother See of Etchmiadzin

ArmInfo.  Head of the European office of the ARF "Hay Dat" Dashnaktsutyun, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) Gaspar Karapetyan called on the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas to visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during her visit to Armenia.

As reported by the press service of the EAFJD, Karapetyan sent a  corresponding letter with the call to Kallas on the eve of her visit  to Yerevan.

"On behalf of the EAFJD and our 14 branches operating in Europe, we  write to you with deep concern in the context of your upcoming  official visit to the Republic of Armenia. Your visit comes at a  crucial moment for the Armenian people and their democratic future.  As you are aware, the events unfolding around the Armenian Apostolic  Holy Church, the center of which is the Mother See of Holy  Etchmiadzin, are rapidly developing into not only an internal  institutional crisis, but also a broader problem of democratic  sustainability and constitutional balance in Armenia," the letter  says.

Karapetyan noted that in recent days, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan has launched an unprecedented campaign against the Armenian  Apostolic Church, including public attacks and often vulgar language  against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, the spiritual leader  of the Armenian Church, as well as slanderous accusations. He added  that this was followed by the arrests of high-ranking clergy,  including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, and threats of violent  interference in the internal life of the Church, and on June 27,  security forces attempted to storm the Mother See of Holy  Etchmiadzin, and the situation in Armenia is currently extremely  tense.

According to him, the government's tendency to label any opposition  within the country as "pro-Russian" is also complex and alarming,  regardless of the person's true position.

"This tactic of Pashinyan, disguised as part of the so-called  anti-Russian policy, is dangerously deceptive. It undermines  political pluralism, destroys freedom of speech and stifles Armenia's  fragile democratic space.

This moment is of great importance for the European Union. The EU's  credibility as a democratic partner is at stake. If Armenia is to  build a sustainable, inclusive and democratic future in line with its  aspirations for closer cooperation with the EU, political pluralism,  freedom of speech and institutional balance must be protected and not  sacrificed for temporary political expediency.

We therefore respectfully urge you to visit the Mother See of Holy  Etchmiadzin and meet with the leaders of the opposition parties in  the National Assembly, as well as with independent civil society  voices. This will send a strong message: that democracy should not be  limited to one vote; that the EU stands firmly for democratic values  in practice, not just in principle; and that law enforcement agencies  exist to serve and protect citizens, not to carry out the will of one  person, even if he is the Prime Minister. The rule of law, freedom of  speech and human rights must always prevail," the letter says.