‘We will continue to defend our values and sacred institutions, as we have done for centuries’ – Samvel Karapetyan

Samvel Karapetyan’s defense council has shared a new message from him via Facebook.

“Dear compatriots,

The events that occurred recently and in the past few days have confirmed my worst predictions. A small group has shown that, quite literally, they are willing to trample over any sacred institution. In their pursuit of power, these individuals have committed an act unprecedented in the history of the Armenian people—attempting to violate the foundations of the Armenian Apostolic Church and desecrate the Holy Liturgy through hostile interference. By doing so, these authorities have taken yet another step toward national division, earning the condemnation and outrage of Armenians everywhere.

We can be certain that this small group will not stop even at attacking and discrediting our most important national institution—our Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

However, they must know that we will continue to defend our values and sacred institutions, just as we have done for centuries, as we did yesterday, and as we will tomorrow. No hardship will halt our march toward victory. No imprisonment will break the spirit of the many current political prisoners—Archbishop Mikael, Archbishop Bagrat, and Bishop Mkrtich, the dozens of residents of Gyumri, including Ruben Mkhitaryan, the Gyumri representative of the ‘Our Way’ movement, and other friends and colleagues—who strive to live in an Armenia with prosperous citizens, free from dictatorship and foreign influence, guided by true Christian values and restored dignity.

We will do it our way,” the message reads.