Armenian Association of Organizations of Argentina issues statement regarding travel ban on Karekin II
ArmInfo.. The Armenian Association of Organizations of Argentina (IARA) have issued a statement condemning the Armenian authorities' decision to initiate a criminal case against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and ban him from leaving the country.
"We condemn with deep concern the decision of the Armenian government to ban His Holiness Karekin II from leaving the country, preventing his participation in the upcoming Bishops' Conference in Austria. This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader process that has been taking place recently, characterized by the weakening of state institutions and a move toward authoritarianism, which is damaging not only the Armenian Apostolic Church, but also society, opposition parties, and the historical relations between Armenia and the Diaspora," the diaspora organization said in a statement.
IARA added that for several years, it has observed with alarm systematic attacks on the political opposition, including lawsuits and arrests that raise well-founded suspicions of political motivation; persecution of critics, limiting pluralism and the right to free speech; and numerous attempts to discredit the Armenian Diaspora with false claims that the Diaspora's demands are an obstacle to peace.
"Thus, an attempt is being made to artificially divide Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora. An even more serious circumstance is the increasing interference of political authorities in the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church through arbitrary actions and the labeling of its spiritual leader. Such behavior not only violates the rule of law, freedom of conscience, and speech, but also threatens the unity of the Armenian people both in the Homeland and in the Diaspora.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is not a political party or an institution subordinate to the authorities. It is the spiritual pillar of our millennia-old identity and the guardian of our faith. The separation of Church and state must guarantee independence and mutual respect; it must never become an instrument of oppression or enslavement," the statement continues.
The Diaspora organization believes that the ban imposed on the Catholicos sets an alarming precedent. "Hindering his participation in church meetings is a direct violation of the right to freedom of movement and a clear attempt by the state to interfere in the life of the National Church. Based on all of the above, Armenian organizations in the Argentine Republic resolutely reject any actions aimed at suppressing political opposition, whether institutional or through judicial pressure; attempts to separate Armenia from the Diaspora through speeches aimed at devaluing the historical devotion of Armenian communities scattered throughout the world; persecution or intimidation of religious, public, or political figures for their legitimate activities; the use of state levers to incite internal hostility that weakens national unity," the statement continues.
In this regard, the organization called on the Armenian authorities to fully respect the autonomy and internal governance of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Furthermore, to guarantee the rights of all individuals, organizations, and parties without discrimination and persecution; to preserve the independence of the judiciary and political pluralism as the foundation of democracy; restore respect and cooperation with the Armenian diaspora, recognizing its historical role and invaluable contribution to the development of the nation.
"We reaffirm that Armenia's strength cannot be built on internal confrontation, the restriction of freedoms, or the stigmatization of dissidents. National unity is not imposed; it is built on the foundation of respect, sincere dialogue, and democratic coexistence. Armenian identity, forged over centuries of hardship, cannot be destroyed by actions that contradict our national essence. Church and state are distinct entities, and they must continue to function as such in an atmosphere of mutual respect and balance," the organization concluded. Recall, on February 14, it was announced that the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia had launched a criminal case against the Catholicos of All Armenians for failure to comply with a court order filed by defrocked cleric Arman Saroyan.
As a preventive measure, he has been placed under a travel ban. Similar charges were previously brought against six members of the Supreme Spiritual Council and the Council's secretary. Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan expressed his conviction that these actions by the Armenian authorities are aimed at disrupting the Supreme Spiritual Council, scheduled to take place from February 16-19 in Austria. It is also worth noting that the case was opened a day after Nikol Pashinyan announced that he would not allow the Catholicosate to leave Armenia.
He recalled that the Armenian Apostolic Church is also a subject of international relations, as it operates in many countries around the world, is a member of numerous international church organizations, and has financial and organizational mobilization capabilities that are independent of Pashinyan.