Attack on Church could lead to very dangerous trends – Vitaly Milonov

Speaking with Alpha News, Russian MP Vitaly Milonov commented on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s attacks on the Church, Ilham Aliyev’s new statements about “Western Azerbaijan”, as well as the closure of Russian channels in Azerbaijan. According to the MP, the attack on the Church could lead to very dangerous trends.

“I am deeply concerned that both Mr. Pashinyan and those close to him adhere to a course that is not traditional for Armenians; they regard the Church not as a moral and ethical institution that has existed in Armenia for two millennia, but rather as a socio-political tool that is convenient for them. The Church cannot be forced to act in a way that is not considered correct for Christians to act. An attack on the Church can lead to very dangerous trends because some of Mr. Pashinyan’s Western advisers may think that it is possible to create another church that would be more secular, more tolerant, less traditional, that it is even possible not to use crosses,” Milonov said.

“Naturally, what Mr. Pashinyan says serves the interests of global forces, including Great Britain, the United States, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, because in global terms, an alliance with Turkey and Azerbaijan is much more important for the West. This must be understood, and only one thing is required of Armenia—to commit suicide and make small concessions to a large strategic partner, to give up part of its territories so that roads and communications for the North Atlantic alliance can develop. Since the Church is fundamentally against such concessions, then, of course, it becomes inconvenient, it must be changed, or criticized, or questioned. People are being told that the words of the Church should not be perceived as the words of the Church—this is simply an erroneous opinion,” Milonov noted.

According to the MP, the term “Western Azerbaijan” is unknown to most historians.

“If we speak from a historical perspective, the term ‘Western Azerbaijan’ has nothing to do with the historical truth. Perhaps this is a collection of fake historical narratives, some mythical lands, but I am sure that most historians do not know the term ‘Western Azerbaijan’, and it relates more to political rhetoric than to history. If Armenia continues to consistently refuse sovereignty and its strategic partnerships, as it unfortunately happened in 2018, then, of course, there is a risk of settling Azerbaijanis in Armenia,” Milonov noted.