In response to media inquiries, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin issued a statement.
"His Excellency T. Nathan arch. Recordings of phone conversations attributed to Hovhannisyan.
In the context of the actions unleashed by the authorities against the church, including the arrest of dozens of clergymen and the arrest of two churchmen in recent days, it is already obvious who is behind this yet another act.
These days, the entire law enforcement and judicial system is committed to the implementation of illegal anti-church directives. The purpose of circulating such expressions attributed to the Catholicos of All Armenians is to discredit and cause enmity towards the Church and its members.
Violation of the privacy of telephone conversations is a crime in itself and a separate topic, to which we hope law enforcement agencies will respond adequately."
