Ex-envoy: Pashinyan 'desperately needs provocations' at Mother See

Former Armenian MP and special envoy Edmon Marukyan says Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan may be seeking provocations at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during a gathering announced by ten bishops aligned with him.

“Pashinyan desperately needs provocations at the Mother See today,” Marukyan said in a Facebook video. “He wants a scene where he can portray the ten traitorous bishops as victims and start defending them. He would even be pleased if the bishops were assaulted at the Mother See.”

Marukyan called on opposition forces and citizens to remain vigilant and avoid falling into any such provocations, emphasizing that the event should proceed peacefully.

“This must not happen. This is a carefully orchestrated provocation. Pashinyan is trying to advance his political agenda through the bishops. If no provocation occurs today and the bishops arrive at the Mother See, their entry should not be blocked. There should be no insults and no provocations. Let them attend the meeting and let the Catholicos and clergy engage with them inside,” he said.