General Karen Shakaryan deprived of  `Hero of Artsakh` title for  taking part in pilgrimage organized by RA premier 

ArmInfo. General Karen Shakaryan has been stripped of his "Hero of Artsakh" title. The corresponding order was signed by Acting Artsakh President Ashot Danielyan.  This decision followed Shakaryan's participation in a pilgrimage organized by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on January 6 to call for the resignation of His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

According to the decision, the general was stripped of his title in  accordance with Part 4 of Article 40 of the Artsakh Republic Law "On  State Awards and Honorary Titles" and based on the conclusion of the  Advisory Commission under the President of the NKR on State Awards  and Honorary Titles.  Recall that in May, the Armenian Prime Minister  launched a campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church. As part of  this campaign, on January 5, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  signed the so- called "roadmap for the improvement" of the Armenian  Apostolic Church with 10 rebellious bishops the previous evening.

The "roadmap" consists of ten points: a public announcement of a  reform program; the removal of the current Catholicos of All  Armenians; the election of a locum tenens of the patriarchal throne;  the adoption of a Church Charter, which is to establish "mechanisms  for maintaining established principles, ensuring financial  transparency and proper conduct of the clergy"; and the election of  the Catholicos of All Armenians "in accordance with the established  procedure." It should be noted that, according to the Constitution of  Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Church is separate from the state.  Moreover, the Catholicos is elected by the National Spiritual Council  for a life term.