Hayk Nahapetyan, co-founder of the "No to Western Azerbaijan" movement, was in Etchmiadzin today with other representatives of the movement.
The members of the movement participated in the liturgy dedicated to the Feast of the Holy Resurrection delivered by His Holiness the Patriarch in the Mother Church.
After the liturgy, in the yard of the Mother See, Hayk Nahapetyan talked with the citizens, who expressed their displeasure with the attitude of the authorities towards the Catholicos of All Armenians and expressed their support for His Holiness.
Hayk Nahapetyan, co-founder of the "No to Western Azerbaijan" movement, presented to the citizens the demand-petition for the protection of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Patriarch of All Armenians, which they are preparing to present to the World Council of Churches.
Hundreds of citizens supported the initiative and expressed their willingness to join the signature collection.
We present the letter in its entirety below.
"OPEN LETTER TO THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
In July 2025, the World Council of Churches (WCC) issued a statement expressing deep concern over recent developments related to the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia, including the actions of law enforcement agencies at the Holy Etchmiadzin Mother See and the arrest of high-ranking clergy. At the same time, reports of the use of force against Holy Places and the arrest of clerics raised serious concerns about the protection of religious freedom, the sanctity of worship, and the autonomy of religious institutions.
In this context, the Council appealed to the Armenian government to ensure the protection, dignity and legal rights of all religious leaders and institutions, to refrain from such actions or statements that could be interpreted as targeting religious structures or inciting public hostility, to respect the principles of religious freedom, legal procedures and peaceful expression of faith, to encourage open and constructive dialogue between state structures and religious communities.
At the same time, the World Council of Churches expressed its support to the Armenian Apostolic Church, whose historical testimony and lasting role have greatly contributed to the spiritual life and strengthening of both the Armenian people and the world Christian community.
However, the Government of Armenia not only did not heed the call of the Council of Ministers, but also consistently continued the persecution of the clergy, devoted and faithful children of the Church, Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Garegin II.
Four bishops, including leaders of dioceses, as well as a number of clergymen were subsequently arrested. Those who openly oppose the policy implemented by the authorities, by which the Church is considered a threat to the national sovereignty and spiritual independence of the Armenian people, are subject to criminal prosecution.
At the same time, the state authorities initiated the creation of non-ecclesiastical governing bodies, which claim authority over the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church. This grossly violates both the principle of separation of the Church and the state stipulated by the RA Constitution, as well as the fundamental international norms regarding freedom of religion.
In the public sphere, with the permission and participation of officials, a discrediting campaign is being conducted against the Church and its spiritual leadership. Such an attitude creates an atmosphere of intolerance and increases the pressure on believers, depriving them of their legal right to practice their traditional faith freely.
The described events do not unfold in isolation. The systematic weakening of the Armenian Apostolic Church fits into the broader context of regional pressure on Armenian identity.
Azerbaijan publicly supports the pressure of the Armenian Apostolic Church, showing a concerted interest in depriving the Armenian people of the main custodian of their historical memory and spiritual identity.
Sheikh-ul-Islam Alashukyur Pashazadeh, the head of the Caucasus Muslim Department, sent a letter to the World Council of Churches, in which he accuses the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church of "inciting people to violence, calling the Armenian people to fight to the death, and dragging the future of the Armenian people into new dangers and disasters."
At the same time, speaking at the session on religious issues held in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani spiritual leader specifically stated: "During visits to liberated Karabakh with religious leaders, we regularly introduce them to the Azerbaijani reality. We present convincing evidence that reveals the anti-Azerbaijani propaganda of the Armenian Church and the revanchist misinformation that continues to this day," Pashazade stated without giving details.
The policy of persecution of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church by the Azerbaijani authorities and the head of the Caucasus Muslim Department, Sheikh-ul-Islam Alashukyur Pashazade, was recently supplemented by the pre-election program of the ruling "Civil Agreement" party in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, where the Catholicos of All Armenians are allegedly persecuted openly under the guise of Church reforms, it is proposed to adopt a new Church Charter and implement the Catholicos new elections.
In that pre-election program, it is specifically stated that the "Civil Contract" party supports the agenda of the renovation of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and adopts the following road map:
a) Removal of the de facto head of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church (retirement title),
b) Election of the Catholicos deputy in accordance with the established procedure,
c) Adoption of the Charter of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. The charter should establish structures for maintaining the established principles, ensuring financial transparency and the good behavior of the clergy.
d) Election of the Catholicos of All Armenians in accordance with the established procedure.
The persecutions carried out by the Armenian authorities, particularly the Government, against the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, the clergy, His Holiness the Patriarch and the dedicated and faithful children of the Church is also a serious challenge to the World Council of Churches with 356 Church-members.
Taking into account the above, the "No to "Western Azerbaijan"" movement appeals to the World Council of Churches to discuss the following steps:
● To call on the competent authorities of the Republic of Armenia to release all clergymen and clerics of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who have been imprisoned for their ecclesiastical and civil positions, and to ensure a fair investigation of their cases;
● To express concern about attempts by state bodies to interfere in the internal management of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and to create structures that contradict the canonical structure of the Church and the constitutional principle of independence from the state.
● Discuss the issue of sending an independent mission to assess the situation of religious freedom in Armenia, including the conditions of detention of the imprisoned clerics.
● Issue a statement supporting the canonical integrity and spiritual sovereignty of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as an integral part of the Armenian people's right to religious and national identity.
We are convinced that the World Council of Churches, which has repeatedly defended religious freedom in different regions of the world, cannot be silent about these developments.
The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church bears the living memory of the 1915 genocide, the tragedy of Artsakh and the centuries-old struggle of Armenians for national survival. The destruction of this institution or its subjugation to the state structures, which act in opposition to national interests, is equivalent to Armenia's loss of the civilizational identity that distinguishes the Armenian people in the South Caucasus region. Without its independent faith, Armenia ceases to be Armenia."
