'Hands off the Armenian church': Protest held in Moscow amid Pashinyan's visit

A crowd of around 300 demonstrators gathered outside the Armenian Embassy in Moscow on Thursday ahead of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s arrival in the Russian capital, protesting the recent arrests of senior clerics and public figures in Armenia.

The rally, which included members of the Armenian clergy and community activists, condemned the detentions of Armenian archbishops and businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan as unconstitutional.

Protesters held images of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan and Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with posters reading “Hands off our faith, the Holy Apostolic Church” and “We stand with Etchmiadzin”. The crowd chanted “Our cross is our strength”.

Organizers said the demonstration was timed specifically to coincide with Pashinyan’s visit. The Armenian leader has already arrived in Moscow, where he met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin earlier in the day.