Armenia`s authorities resorting to pressure and disinformation in  dealing with Church - AAC

ArmInfo.The meeting of bishops and leaders of dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church expresses  regret that the current government in Armenia is solving problems in relations between the Church and the state using the tools of threats, pressure and disinformation, reads a statement adopted by the meeting on Thursday. 

As noted in the message of the Office of the Mother See of  Etchmiadzin, the issues included in the agenda of the meeting were  related to the challenges facing the Motherland, problems of concern  to society, and the mission of the Church. In connection with the  recent accusations against the AAC, the meeting adopted a statement  noting that against the backdrop of public discontent caused by  unilateral concessions in the Tavush region under the guise of  delimitation and demarcation of borders, government representatives,  including the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia again began  attacks on the AAC, throwing in false theories related to the  historical mission of the Church and its activities at the present  stage.

"Even more surprising are the naked accusations of allegedly  non-payment of taxes by the Church, while official statistics record  the fulfillment of tax obligations established by the legislation of  the Republic of Armenia. It is especially reprehensible when the head  of government groundlessly accuses the AAC of what it allegedly does,  both in the past and in currently, is an "agent of influence."  Representatives of the RA government must realize their  responsibility to the people and the Motherland, think about the  historical patriotic and national role of the Church, also enshrined  in the RA Constitution, and reconsider the policies they have  adopted. We pray that God will grant our Motherland. peace, and  prosperity and security for our people," the AAC statement says.

On May 22, speaking in the country's parliament, RA Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan, against the backdrop of rallies of the "Tavush for  the Motherland" movement, called the AAC "an agent of influence"  since historical times.    "The Armenian people had experience when  the clergy went to Caesarea and were anointed, and when they came to  Armenia, they became agents of influence," said the RA Prime  Minister, adding that nothing has changed since then, and the issue  can be resolved in 2-3 months.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is included in the list of 1000  taxpayers in Armenia. At the end of 2023, it paid out more than 435  million drams, taking 758th place in the list. And according to the  results of the first quarter of 2024 - over 147 million drams,  ranking in 488th place.