‘We are experiencing the unthinkable: an attack on our Church by the Armenian government’ – Aram Vardevanyan

Lawyer Aram Vardevanyan spoke at the annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, which is taking place on February 2–3.

“I come from my homeland, the Republic of Armenia. A great nation, filled with talented and hardworking people. A nation which has suffered genocide, oppression, blockades, and wars – and yet has never lost its faith.

In the year 301, Armenia adopted Christianity as its state religion, which made our country the first Christian nation. For centuries, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church has safeguarded our national, religious, and cultural identity. Through harsh times, the Church has remained our anchor, unifying Armenians at home and abroad. Thus, freedom of religion is not only a universal human right for Armenia, it is the very core of our value system.

In recent years, Armenians have faced new tragedies. The 44 days of war in Artsakh (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh), followed by the forced displacement of more than 120,000 Armenians from their homes – an element of the ethnic cleansing policy of Azerbaijan. Centuries-old Christian Churches and Monasteries have been vandalized, denying Christian Armenians access to places of worship, places which housed sacred relics. I, myself, have prayed in these holy sanctuaries. I know what they mean to the people of Armenia, and what it means to be cut off from them.

Christian Armenians are held captive as political prisoners in Azerbaijan, where at least 19 of them remain today. It is noteworthy that President Trump has publicly supported the release of the Armenian prisoners in Baku.

Although the Armenian Church suffered religious persecution by foreign states, today we are experiencing the unthinkable: an attack on our Church by the Armenian government, the likes of which we have not witnessed since Soviet times.

Beginning last spring, leading figures in the Armenian government, notably the Prime Minister posted offensive messages on social media about the Catholicos, the head of the Armenian Holy Church and demanded his immediate resignation. To put this into perspective, please imagine the outrage if the leader of a Catholic country demanded the resignation of the Pope!
Four bishops of the Apostolic Church and other clergymen have been arrested and continuously detained on indictments that violate due process, and are political in their nature. Such actions, such continuous detentions, are an attack on our Church.

Last June, the largest donor to the Apostolic Church—Samvel Karapetyan—whom I have the honour to represent was also arrested and detained. When a journalist asked Mr. Karapetyan about the persecution of the Church, he stated that he always stood by the Armenian Church, and that he will participate in defending the Church—and I quote—’in our own way.’

In response to those words, the Prime Minister of Armenia publicly promised retribution. A few hours later Mr. Karapetyan’s home was raided, and he was arrested and detained on the indictment of a public call to seize power. For those words alone Mr. Karapetyan has spent 200 days in the harsh conditions of a Soviet-era prison that once housed the KGB, known locally as the KGB basement.

The Armenian Government weaponized its power against our Church. Pre-trial detention has transformed into punishment, rather than a preventive measure. Our holy leaders have become political prisoners in our own country.
Over the 15 years I have practiced law, I have never seen such flagrant violations of religious freedom in my country. I believe such actions can neither be acceptable, nor tolerable.

A year ago, Vice President JD Vance made a very important statement: ‘We must do more than talk about democratic values. We must live them.’ I believe that democracy requires respect and tolerance for the freedom of religion. I have never lost faith that justice prevails and will prevail, that human rights prevail and will prevail.

Saint Nerses the Gracious, a renowned Armenian Catholicos in the 12th century, was known for this powerful proverb: ‘Unity in essential issues, Freedom in secondary issues, and Love in everything.’

I pray that together we will be able to promote and better protect freedom of religion, not just by words but through our deeds. I pray for freedom for all those who are unlawfully detained and all those who are unlawfully persecuted. Thank you,” Vardevanyan said in his address.