Armenian National Security Service officers enter the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: clashes between clergy and security forces

YEREVAN, June 27. /ARKA/. The National Security Service of Armenia officers are currently in the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The situation is tense, clashes are taking place between the clergy and security forces.

“Dear ones, all the clergy of Armenia are ready to be arrested: we are all in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. We have come to the Mother See: from Holy Etchmiadzin you will take either all of us or our corpses,” said Priest Asoghik Karapetyan, Director of the Museums and Archives of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Earlier on Friday, security forces conducted investigative actions at the place of residence of the Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, who was in Echmiadzin at the time to attend a meeting of the clergy. The day before, a criminal case was initiated against him in connection with his statements "about a military coup in the country."

On June 26, the Investigative Committee of Armenia reported the arrest of 15 people from among the leaders and participants of the "Sacred Struggle" movement, who are defendants in a criminal case on organizing terrorist attacks and seizing power in the country.

Among those arrested are the leader of the "Sacred Struggle" movement, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, two more clergymen, former member of the Artsakh parliament David Galstyan, retired colonel Mihran Makhsudyan, and Dashnaktsutyun member Igor Sargsyan.