Detention of clergymen political order - Gyumri mayor

ArmInfo. The detention of Archbishops Bagrat Galstanyan and Mikael Ajapakhyan is a political order, believes Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan. He stated this on July 28 at a press conference organized in connection with the expiration of his 100 days in office.

Ghukasyan emphasized that he has a negative attitude towards the  events that took place and noted that in his 65 years of life, this  was the first time he witnessed the detention of archbishops. "This  happened in 1937. We heard about similar cases in those years. I  unequivocally condemn such a practice. The detained Bagrat Galstanyan  and Mikael Ajapakhyan are both from Gyumri. Despite the fact that our  views do not coincide with Bagrat Galstanyan, I respect him and  consider both of these cases to be the result of a political order,"  Ghukasyan emphasized.

The Mayor of Gyumri noted that the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol  Pashinyan should also stay away from Catholicos of All Armenians  Garegin II, adding that this is not within his competence and should  not concern the "Civil Contract". "But the fact is that churches  should be on guard. We'll live and see how it will be," Ghukasyan  summed up.

The Prime Minister of Armenia launched a campaign against the  Armenian Apostolic Church in May, and all those who disagree with it  for one reason or another are taken into custody. Thus, on June 18,  philanthropist and president of the Tashir Group of Companies Samvel  Karapetyan was detained and then taken into custody for 2 months  after he expressed support for the Armenian Apostolic Church. He is  accused of publicly calling for the seizure of power in the country.  Karapetyan does not admit guilt. In addition, on June 25, 16  opposition figures and supporters of the "Sacred Struggle" movement,  led by the movement's leader, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, were  taken into custody. They are accused of attempting to "seize power."  And on June 28, the Yerevan Court of First Instance decided to arrest  the head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,  Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhian, for two months.  Archbishop Mikael  Ajapakhian is accused of calling for the violent overthrow of the  government. This was preceded by the penetration of law enforcement  officers into the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  Detentions and arrests continue.