Armenian Diaspora speaks out against Pashinyan’s policies

Representative of the Armenian Diaspora in Kaliningrad, Arsen Khalatov, stated that compatriots have shown Nikol Pashinyan the scale of protest in defense of the Armenian Apostolic Church. According to him, the government’s policies are aimed at replacing traditional values and rewriting national history, which has provoked outrage among the diaspora. Khalatov noted that the arrests of clergy are being perceived as destructive actions by the authorities.

“We felt it necessary to hold a rally and declare our disagreement with Pashinyan’s course. Many of us hold dual citizenship, and we intend to participate in the elections to make our position known,” he stressed.

Khalatov recalled the detention of four clergymen, who were subsequently placed under house arrest, and noted that similar demonstrations are taking place in various cities across Russia, from Moscow to Krasnodar.
In Kaliningrad, a rally in support of the Armenian Apostolic Church was held on the grounds of the Surb Stepanos church. The event was organized by the Heirs of Noah movement and the Crusader movement.

The conflict between the Armenian authorities and the AAC has been accompanied by the arrests of clergy and benefactors, which diaspora representatives describe as political persecution. Pashinyan previously compared opposition-minded clergymen to radical Islamists, drawing further condemnation.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated that it is closely monitoring the situation.