Bishops` behavior must have consequences - lawyer 

ArmInfo. Armenia's constitutional guarantees and legal norms stipulate that the actions  of the 10 bishops who supported Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's  anti-Church campaign must have consequences, for which all necessary  mechanisms exist. Lawyer Aram Vardevanyan wrote this on his Facebook  page, thus supporting the decision of His Holiness Catholicos of All  Armenians Garegin II to convene a meeting of bishops on December  10-12 to discuss recent events surrounding the Church.

In this regard, the lawyer considered it necessary to highlight the  wisdom of the Constituent Assembly's decision to enshrine the status  of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) in the Constitution. "Although  we are witnessing the erosion of many constitutional guarantees, this  does not mean that constitutional norms have been exhausted. Clearly,  the actions of these 10 bishops are the result of intervention and  coordination by the executive branch, and this is happening openly  and transparently. It is worth noting that no European country has  experienced anything similar," Vardevanyan emphasized.

He also expressed his conviction that the convening of the Council of  Bishops demonstrates that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin needs  protection. "Furthermore, it proves that the statement by businessman  Samvel Karapetyan, head of the Tashir Group of Companies, in defense  of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin led to an illegal arrest that  has lasted for over five months for the simple reason that the  authorities do not tolerate even attempts to defend the Armenian  Apostolic Church. Incidentally, the lengthy period of arrest confirms  that, despite the absurd political persecution, the Mother See of  Holy Etchmiadzin remains under the protection of society; fear will  not prevail, and the law will prevail," Vardevanyan concluded.

As a reminder, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan launched a  widespread anti-church campaign in May, demanding the resignation of  the Catholicos of All Armenians. As part of this campaign, several  clergy members were arrested. Furthermore, a group of bishops joined  Pashinyan in demanding the Catholicos's resignation. In this regard,  at the direction of His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin  II, a meeting of bishops is being convened for December 10-12 to  discuss recent developments in the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and  issues related to internal church life.