Former Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan responds to the developments concerning the Aragatsotn Diocese, viewing them as part of a systematic anti-church campaign.
According to Danielyan, a troubling tradition has already emerged where “unprecedented criminal prosecutions with clear signs of lawlessness” are applied against the Church. He is convinced that the Armenian Apostolic Church has become a target because, in the worldview of modern globalism, countries with deep-rooted values of individuality and, in particular, national identity are the first to be targeted. “Within this system of values, the Armenian Apostolic Church is perhaps the most powerful factor,” he notes.
Danielyan emphasizes that the sole target of anti-religious sentiment is not only traditional churches. The attacks begin with strong institutions, and these actions inadvertently protect, or at the very least do not oppose, sectarian groups, without realizing that their turn will inevitably come. He adds that nearly identical scenarios of anti-church campaigns are being observed in other countries today, and in Armenia’s case, provocations through false statements by the leader of Azerbaijan’s “religious administration” serve as a catalyst.
According to the former minister, the core issue is that the Armenian Apostolic Church, with rare exceptions, does not succumb to policies of division and schism. “On the contrary, it preaches steadfastness in its position of defending national and state interests,” he says. Such a stance is not inherently condemnable, which is why various labels are employed, generally framed as accusations of “revanchism.”
In reality, Danielyan argues, revanchism is not only preached but also freely implemented by the Azerbaijani authorities, who skillfully accuse the Armenian people of it while they defend their legitimate interests.
“Undoubtedly, every Armenian believer will resist through all lawful means and not succumb to the modern, senseless temptation of mutual accusations,” Danielyan emphasizes.