Armenian Prime Minister: Ktrich Nersisyan must vacate the residence of Catholicos

YEREVAN, August 28. /ARКА/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has affirmed that his stance regarding Catholicos Garegin II (head of the Armenian Apostolic Church) remains consistent.

"My stance cannot be altered by any circumstances. Ktrich Nersisyan (the secular name of the Catholicos) must vacate the residence. I had and continue to have specific plans, but they do not align with the views of many in the Republic of Armenia," Pashinyan stated during a press briefing on Thursday.

He noted, "The residence must be cleared of Ktrich Nersisyan through the efforts of the followers of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, of which I am a member."

"I have declared that I will spearhead this process, and I am confident that you will soon witness its developments," Pashinyan remarked.

In early June, Pashinyan accused Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II of violating his vow of celibacy and fathering a child, thus rendering him unfit to be the Supreme Patriarch. The Prime Minister revisited this issue multiple times on social media, demanding clarification.

On June 26, the Investigative Committee of Armenia reported the arrest of 15 activists of the so-called "Sacred Struggle" movement, who are accused of organizing terrorist attacks and seizing power in the country. Among those arrested are the leader of the Sacred Struggle movement, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, two other clergymen, former member of the Karabakh parliament David Galstyan, retired colonel Migran Makhsudyan, and Dashnaktsutyun member Igor Sargsyan.

On June 27, the Investigative Committee initiated a public criminal prosecution against the head of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan under Article 422 of the Criminal Code on public calls for the seizure of power and the violent overthrow of the constitutional order using the media, information and communication technologies.-0-