Four organizations condemn statements by OSCE Secretary General Sinirlioglu on removal of Catholicos

The Armenian Center for Political Rights, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Forum for Religious Freedom in Europe, and Christian Solidarity International have issued a joint statement condemning remarks made by Feridun H. Sinirlioglu, OSCE Secretary General, in a conversation with Russian prank callers. In their assessment, he effectively expressed readiness to support the Armenian government’s initiative to remove Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

The organizations stressed that such a position is incompatible with the duties of the head of the OSCE, whose mission is to protect human rights and religious freedom. “Sinirlioglu has failed this test and now must clarify his position,” the statement says.

The document notes that Principle VII of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act enshrines the OSCE’s obligation to respect freedom of conscience and religion. It stresses that since May 2025, Armenian authorities have been conducting a systematic campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church: Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister, has publicly called for the Catholicos’s removal and published a “roadmap” for his ouster, while clergy have faced travel restrictions and politically motivated criminal cases.

The organizations recalled that the Armenian Apostolic Church has played a key role in preserving the language, culture and identity of the Armenian people since the year 301, and that Armenia’s Constitution enshrines its “exclusive mission.” Any attempt to remove the Catholicos violates not only the country’s international obligations but also its constitutional order.

“In light of this, we call on Secretary General Sinirlioglu to:

● publicly clarify and retract any statements suggesting the OSCE could support the removal of the Catholicos of All Armenians or otherwise interfere in the internal governance of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church;

● reaffirm the OSCE’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion or belief in Armenia in accordance with the organization’s human dimension commitments;

● engage in dialogue with the Catholicos of All Armenians to ensure full protection of the rights of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, its clergy and its faithful.

We stand ready to meet with OSCE representatives to provide further information and outline our concerns, and we will continue to closely monitor the organization’s leadership. The head of the OSCE should be a bulwark against violations of religious freedom, not a willing enabler of them. Based on his published remarks, Secretary General Sinirlioglu has failed this test and now must clarify his position,” the statement says.

The statement was signed by John Eibner, President of Christian Solidarity International; Jan Figeľ, President of the Forum for Religious Freedom in Europe; Rafael Ishkhanyan, President of the Armenian Center for Political Rights; and Siranush Sahakyan, Chairperson of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia.