Ara Zohrabyan files crime report regarding authorities` ongoing  attacks on  Armenian Apostolic Church

ArmInfo.  Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan has reported that, amid the Armenian authorities' ongoing attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church, he has filed two crime reports with the country's law enforcement agencies. As Zohrabyan  informed on his Facebook page, the following statements and appeals  were filed in defense of the interests of the church and clergy: "A  criminal case has been initiated on the fact of violating the privacy  of Archbishop Nathan's telephone conversations. It is also possible  that these conversations were edited and changed. However, the very  fact of violating the privacy in itself raises questions. Article 206  of the Criminal Code of Armenia considers the illegal violation of  the privacy of correspondence, telephone conversations, and other  forms of communication as a crime.

Also, a criminal case has been opened on the fact of Nikol Pashinyan  and Stepan Asatryan preparing to obstruct the performance of a  religious ceremony. By their actions, Stepan Asatryan and Armenian  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are preparing an act prohibited by  Article 209 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia  (obstruction of the performance of a religious ceremony), which is  considered an unfinished crime. According to Part 1 of Article 14 of  the Criminal Code of Armenia, the basis for criminal liability is the  commission "both a completed and an unfinished crime," he noted.

According to the lawyer, the preparations to obstruct the liturgy on  October 26 by a priest appointed by the Armenian Apostolic Church  were evident in Nikol Pashinyan's invitation, the insistent demand to  receive communion only from "Father Aram" at the liturgy on that day,  as well as threats against high-ranking clergy,  and Stepan  Asatryan's refusal to leave the church premises and the invitation  and insistence on conducting the liturgy. Zohrabyan noted that the  aforementioned individuals will achieve this goal if law enforcement  agencies do not take action. "A request has been submitted to the  Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia to prevent  the intrusion. One of the demands  was for Stepan Asatryan to be  evicted from the presbytery, altar, sacristy, and other areas  designated exclusively for the clergy of the Hovhannavank Church in  the village of Ohanavan, Ashtarak Community, Aragatsotn Province,  owned by the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, in accordance with the  procedure established by Armenian Government Resolution No. 797-N of  May 10, 2007," Zohrabyan concluded.