Opposition MP condemns raid at Mother See of Etchmiadzin

Opposition lawmaker Aghvan Vardanyan has denounced last week’s raid by the National Security Service (NSS) and police at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as a “sacrilege”.

“Even the Mongols and Turks never set foot in Etchmiadzin. Yet, the evil regime occupying the Republic of Armenia invaded the very temple of Armenian identity,” the Hayastan faction MP announced at a parliament session on Tuesday.

Vardanyan accused the ruling Civil Contract party of being disconnected from Armenian values and traditions. He described the detention of Archbishops Bagrat and Mikayel by the NSS as a cowardly and disgraceful move.

The MP also condemned the prosecution of prominent businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, calling it an act of ingratitude.

“You are destroyers, he is a builder. He stands strong in his Armenian identity, while you are rootless and untrustworthy,” Vardanyan said, urging the Armenian public not to remain silent in the face of injustice.