CCAF demands end to persecution of AAC

ArmInfo.The Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF) responded to the criminal case initiated by the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. The diaspora organization expressed regret and strongly condemned the repression against the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).

A statement published by Council Co-Chair Murad Frank Papazian on his  Facebook page emphasized that "this escalation has just reached a new  level with the illegal prosecutions brought against Catholicos of All  Armenians His Holiness Karekin II on matters that clearly fall within  the exclusive jurisdiction of the clergy." "This political campaign  against the Supreme Leader of the Armenian Church and his hierarchy  represents an unacceptable violation of one of the most important  pillars of Armenian national identity. It weakens the entire  nation-from the homeland to the Diaspora-by creating an internal rift  within itself that only its opponents can rejoice in. While the  Armenian people face grave external threats, they cannot afford a  confrontation of this kind, which is as unworthy as it is destructive  to their unity and moral strength," the organization said in a  statement. CCAF called on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and  his entire government to unite and immediately put an end to this  unrest, which is reminiscent of Stalin-era practices and the darkest  hours of our history.

The Diaspora organization demanded an immediate review of the illegal  decisions made against the Catholicos of All Armenians, six  bishops-members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, and its secretary.   The French Catholicos of All Armenians assures His Holiness Karekin  II and the Armenian Apostolic Church of its respect, full support,  and solidarity.

On February 14, it was announced that the Prosecutor General's Office  of Armenia had opened a criminal case against the Catholicos of All  Armenians for failing to comply with a court order filed by the  defrocked Catholicos, Arman Saroyan.

He has been placed on bail. Similar charges were previously brought  against six members of the Supreme Spiritual Council and the  Council's secretary. Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan expressed his conviction  that these actions by the Armenian authorities are aimed at  disrupting the Supreme Spiritual Council, scheduled to take place  from February 16-19 in Austria. It is also noteworthy that the case  was opened a day after Nikol Pashinyan announced that he would not  allow the Catholicosate to leave Armenia.