"Hraparak" daily writes: We learned that recently the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has paid large sums of money to the state as a "paraffin tax". According to our source, we are talking about several 100 thousand dollars. The authorities, led by Nikol Pashinyan, have recently focused on the production and sale of candles and have repeatedly announced that all activities of the Armenian Apostolic Church, including the production and sale of candles, should be taxed. There is also talk about taking church lands from the Mother See administration. Apparently, the Catholicos of All Armenians has decided to voluntarily comply with Pashinyan's request, hoping that maybe his attitude will be softened.
In a conversation with "Hraparak", the head of the Information Center of the Mother See, Rev. Artenyan confirmed our information that large amounts of money were paid to the state budget in connection with the candle, but he said that he could not say the exact amount.
He only mentioned that it is quite a large sum.
