Opposition MP slams defrocked priest-led liturgy in Armenia town

Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan has denounced a church service led by a defrocked priest in the Armenian town of Talin as illegal. The service held on Tuesday was authorized by local authorities.

In a Facebook post, Abrahamyan argued that preventing ordained clergy from entering a church or obstructing a legitimate liturgy constitutes a criminal offense. He claimed that the service conducted in Talin did not qualify as a lawful religious ceremony.

The MP, who represents the Pativ Unem faction, accused local officials and police officers present at the church of acting outside the law. According to Abrahamyan, the event organized by the authorities “had nothing to do with a liturgy”.

He further accused the government of normalizing unlawful behavior and turning public institutions into objects of ridicule. Abrahamyan alleged that such actions were being enabled by security agencies and officials who were carrying out illegal orders.

“Lawlessness, self-deception and becoming an object of mockery have become a normal state for them,” he wrote, adding that the situation was being “sponsored by security structures, those executing illegal instructions and other visible or invisible officials.”