ANC voices support to AAC

ArmInfo. An unprecedented and flagrant violation has occurred in the history of Armenia. At the direction of RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, a criminal case has been opened against Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, and a travel ban has been imposed as a preventive measure. This was stated  in a statement released by the Armenian National Congress (ANC).

"The pretext for this was the alleged failure to comply with the  requirements of a legitimate court decision.  This is a clear mockery  of justice, legality and reason. The court, brazenly flouting the  Constitution and legality, accepted the case for consideration and  chose a method to secure a claim in a case the subject of which is  under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Armenian Apostolic Holy  Church. The Constitution clearly prohibits the state from interfering  in the self-government of a religious organization. Seeking to bring  this absurdity to perfection, the Investigative Committee opened a  criminal case for failure to comply with this illegal decision. To  avoid appearing vulgar, we will quote the relevant articles of the  Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations", adopted  in 1991. Article 17. In the Republic of Armenia, the church is  separated from the state. According to this provision, the state has  no right to force a citizen to profess a particular religion, does  not interfere in the internal life of churches and religious  organizations, and prohibits the activities of any state body "or  individuals performing their duties within the structure of churches  and religious organizations. The law also prohibits the church from  participating in government, and the AAC is not assigned any  government functions," the statement reads.

Furthermore, as emphasized in the statement, the state does not  impede the implementation of missions that are the monopoly of the  national church. Specifically, this concerns the right to freely  preach and disseminate one's religion throughout the territory of the  Republic of Armenia. Churches and religious organizations are  permitted to recreate their historical traditions, structures,  organizations, dioceses, and communities, build new churches, and  commission historical church monuments belonging to them, both at the  request of believers and on their own initiative. The law also  stipulates the right to promote the spiritual education of the  Armenian people, including in state educational institutions in the  manner prescribed by law, to provide practical support for the moral  development of the Armenian people, and to carry out charitable and  philanthropic activities. At the same time, the document emphasizes  that the Armenian Apostolic Church, as a national church that also  operates outside the country, is protected by the Republic of Armenia  within the framework of international legal norms.

The authors of the document note that, according to the law, the  state does not finance the activities of religious organizations or  the promotion of atheism, while simultaneously reserving for members  and ministers of religious organizations the right to participate in  public and political life on an equal basis with other citizens.

"By involving the judicial system and law enforcement agencies in his  illegal actions, Nikol Pashinyan is essentially undermining the  foundations of Armenian statehood and constitutional order. Instead  of protecting citizens' rights, state institutions are engaged in  dishonest work serving Nikol Pashinyan's personal interests. The  Armenian National Congress expresses its unconditional support for  the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and condemns the illegal actions  unleashed against it and the repressions perpetrated against His  Holiness the Patriarch and other high-ranking clergy. We call on  international organizations to assess these egregious violations of  Armenia's human rights obligations," the ANC statement reads.

As a reminder, the Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal case  against Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, and he is banned from  leaving the country. The case is based on charges of obstructing the  execution of a judicial decision related to the defrocking of Arman  Saroyan. Khachatur Galstyan has been appointed prosecutor in the  criminal case. Investigator Ara Avakyan will lead the investigation.