Armenian opposition leader reiterates support for church

Opposition Pativ Unem faction head Hayk Mamijanyan has reiterated support for the Armenian Apostolic Church amid attacks from the Armenian leadership.

“The church is a sacred institution for us and its protection should be ensured in the way defined by His Holiness [Catholicos Karekin II],” he told reporters before a public forum on Thursday.

Representing the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Mamijanyan emphasized that the party remains fully committed to defending the church and stands ready to respond to any threats against it.

He criticized what he called unprecedented attacks “from individuals who are ethnically Armenian”, noting that such a situation has been either nonexistent or extremely rare throughout Armenian history.