Occupation, genocide—all this did not help Turks. It is the church that preserves Armenian identity — Andranik Hovhannisyan

Speaking with Alpha News, international affairs expert Andranik Hovhannisyan commented on the recent arrests in Armenia of individuals involved in church activities and disseminating relevant statements. When asked why the authorities are pursuing this policy, Hovhannisyan noted that the Armenian government is fulfilling Baku’s demands.

“I have the impression that the Armenian authorities are fulfilling Azerbaijan’s demands. This can be assumed because Azerbaijan constantly voices the idea that all persons—political and public figures—who speak out about issues related to Artsakh should be arrested in Armenia. It means that demands are coming from Baku, and Armenia—consciously or not—is implementing them,” Hovhannisyan said.

According to the expert, all those institutions that, according to the Constitution, should be independent are now fulfilling Pashinyan’s demands.

“For seven years, the Church has been the only institution that does not obey the demands of the current government. All other institutions, which according to the Constitution should be independent, are no longer so and carry out the instructions coming from the regime of Nikol Pashinyan. It turns out that he is trying to break the last pillar that preserves Armenian identity,” Hovhannisyan concluded.