OSCE/ODIHR informed of controversy over AAC 

ArmInfo.  The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), one of the  institutions of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in  Europe (OSCE), is aware of the controversy surrounding the Armenian  Apostolic Church (AAC) and maintains contact with OSCE participating  states, ODIHR press secretary Katya Andrush told RIA Novosti.

"ODIHR is aware of the controversy surrounding the Armenian Apostolic  Church. We maintain contacts with states in the OSCE region to help  them fulfill their commitments to respect freedom of religion or  belief and other fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom  of expression, which form the basis of all democratic states," the  ODIHR representative noted.

On June 27, security forces entered the territory of the Catholicos'  residence in the Mother See of Etchmiadzin in order to arrest the  head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,  Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhian. These actions of law enforcement  officers caused a wide public outcry.  Today, the Armenian Prime  Minister, as part of his anti-church campaign launched at the end of  May this year, announced his readiness to lead the process of  removing all Armenians from the throne of the Catholicos. On July 7,  information began to circulate in the Armenian media that in the near  future, security forces would launch another attack on the Armenian  Apostolic Church.