CSI President on  authorities` attacks on  AAC: Turkey and Azerbaijan  are doing everything to deprive Armenia of its political autonomy

ArmInfo.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church  (AAC) represent more than just a conflict between the Church and the country's authorities; they are the fulfillment of one of Turkey and Azerbaijan's demands aimed at permanently depriving the country of its political agency, as stated by  John Eibner, President of the Christian Society International (CSI), referring to the existential threats currently facing Armenia. 

He recalled that this same process includes demands to amend the  Armenian Constitution and the undermining of the country's  institutions, which is leading to the Armenian people returning to a  state similar to the Ottoman Empire. "Moreover, the methods used by  the current Armenian authorities, including the persecution of the  Armenian Apostolic Church, essentially replicate the Bolshevik style  of operation. After all, these are precisely the methods used by the  Bolsheviks back in 1920," the CSI President believes.

As Eibner explained, the Bolsheviks then initiated and financed the  so-called "free church" movement, and then went even further,  resorting to the murder of people devoted to the church. According to  the CSI President, a similar thing is happening in Armenia today,  only this time at the behest of Baku and Ankara.

"The genocide was carried out for the same reason. It was also  connected to Turkey's panic, which feared that the Armenians might  develop their own political agency, and therefore they needed to stop  it," the CSI head explained. He pointed out that there's no point in  counting on support from third countries in this situation, including  the United States, noting that US Vice President J.D. Vance, during  his visit to Yerevan, neither visited Holy See of Etchmiadzin nor met  with the Catholicos of All Armenians, an important figure in the  country. He said such steps convey clear messages from the United  States.

He mentioned how the 41st US President George W. Bush positioned  himself as an evangelical Christian, while the US claimed to be  "bringing democracy to Syria and protecting human rights." "But I've  been to Syria many times, even met with the Armenian community in  Aleppo, and we all know what happened there. What's happening in  Armenia must be viewed in this light," the CSI President noted.

At the same time, he believes that Armenians themselves must figure  out what to do in the current situation, and that there is no simple  solution to this issue. Eibner added that he himself would encourage  Armenians to remain close to the Christian faith. "After all, this is  precisely what has helped Armenia cope with persecution for  centuries, persecutions far worse than those we see today. If faith  is neutralized, the Armenian people will disappear. Nothing else will  help. Stay close to your faith," the CSI President concluded.