Experiment over Armenia began seven years ago – Ara Babajanyan

President of the Arno Babajanyan Memorial Foundation, actor and singer Ara Babajanyan, spoke to Alpha News about the authorities’ attacks against the Armenian Apostolic Church, the arrest of philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, and Armenian‑Russian relations.

“Everything that has been happening in Armenia over the past seven years is sad and leads to serious consequences. The division of people was a grave mistake—for our nation this is a crime. Now they are trying to drive a wedge into our religion, which for centuries helped us survive as a nation and exist as a state. It was the force that allowed the people to endure and resist attacks, and even during Soviet times it remained a foundation. Today’s confrontation—‘Christians and non‑Christians’—only weakens us. Perhaps this experiment over our people was started seven years ago precisely for this reason. And I fear it will bring nothing good,” Babajanyan noted.

He also commented on the government’s campaign against the Church and the arrest of philanthropist and businessman Samvel Karapetyan.

“Maybe this is someone’s order. There are forces trying to weaken us. When a person has no faith, it is easy to control them. Chaos is created in the minds of believers, and under this pretext any narrative can be imposed. I believe that a person must first of all have spirituality, and spirituality means the Church. Yes, someone may dislike a particular individual, but the Church is an institution that must be respected. History shows that thanks to the Church we survived as a people and today can position ourselves as Armenians. It is sad that a respected man, who made himself and achieved much through talent, is now being persecuted. Samvel Karapetyan, living in Russia, helps promote Armenian culture and art, supports compatriots and their businesses. Such people can only be respected and thanked. I am not closely acquainted with Mr. Karapetyan, but each time I was convinced: he selflessly serves the nation and the people. The criminal cases against him are simply ridiculous. In a democratic society it is impossible that a person should be kept in custody for six months for supporting the Church. This is abnormal. In a state where there is law and justice, such a thing is unacceptable,” he emphasized.

Addressing relations with Russia and anti‑Russian sentiments, Babajanyan noted that this will lead to nothing good.

“I don’t even want to repeat those narratives the prime minister speaks of, I don’t want to comment. I can say something else: my grandfather fought in the Battle of Sardarapat, together with his friends. He went through the First World War. There were people of different ethnicities there—Russians, Yazidis, Georgians. All of them united to resist the aggression of Ottoman Turkey. I heard that the Armenian foreign minister met with representatives of the European Union, including Mrs. Kallas. She suggested imposing sanctions against Russia. I am astonished, because if Armenia imposes sanctions against Russia—maybe Yerevan was persuaded, paid, I don’t know—but for Russia it will be like a mosquito bite, while for Armenia the consequences will be serious. After all, revenues to our budget are largely tied to exports and transit of goods through Russia and back. If that is blocked, life will not become easier for our people. This is political prostitution, which leads to nothing good. Traitors are respected nowhere, and later they are treated badly. Breaking such ties is dangerous. Aliyev recently also began spreading the narrative that Azerbaijan was allegedly occupied. But his father himself was an accomplice of the occupiers: he headed the KGB and was First Secretary. To speak of this today is unserious. This is a certain order being imposed through the media. Unfortunately, many people fall for it. Conformists have always existed in every country,” Babajanyan said.