“HayaQve” has appealed to the World Council of Churches and the UN regarding the interference of the RA authorities in the affairs of the Church

The National Civil Association “HayaQve” has once again appealed to the World Council of Churches, the UN, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, and international structures regarding the de facto state interference of the authorities of the Republic of Armenia in the internal life and canonical self‑governance of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.

«We draw the attention of the international community to the preliminary hearing scheduled for 28 August 2026 at 16:30, at the Vagharshapat seat of the court, before Judge S. Rushanyan, in the criminal case concerning His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and six bishops and archbishops who are members of the Supreme Spiritual Council.

We call upon the international community to closely examine whether the Republic of Armenia, as a state, is respecting the internal autonomy of the Armenian Apostolic Church
and the international and constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion or belief.

We, as followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church and as a civic organization representing Armenian citizens, stand firmly in support of the legality and constitutional order of the
Republic of Armenia, freedom of religion or belief, and the autonomy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

This is not merely a religious matter. It is also a matter of constitutional and legal
responsibility, as well as of national responsibility,” says the appeal.