Document signed by Armenian premier and 10 bishops may be subject to  international judicial review - lawyer 

ArmInfo.The document signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and ten rebel bishops is null and void, contradicts Article 17 of the Armenian Constitution, and violates the principle of separation of state and church, making any legitimate consequences impossible.  Lawyer Levon Baghdasaryan wrote  this on his Facebook page.

As the lawyer explained, this is due to the fact that the document is  not a normative legal act, an individual administrative act, does not  create legal consequences, and is, at most, political or ideological  in nature.  "There is an impression that both church representatives  and the authorities, having abandoned their duties and  responsibilities, are preparing for conflict by manipulating  believers and exploiting the sensitive topic of faith, which is a  norm of natural law. In this regard, I once again appeal to the  government of Armenia to refrain from directly or indirectly  interfering in matters outside its competence, as such interference  may entail liability," the lawyer noted. Baghdasaryan noted that the  legal term "roadmap" is not defined in the Basic Law of Armenia, in  the country's laws, or in the legal system of the Armenian  government. In this regard, he stated that the document signed by  Pashinyan and ten bishops is purely political or ideological in  nature. "The Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) is separated from the  state, which means that state authorities cannot interfere in its  internal affairs. State bodies and officials have no right to  influence the formation or termination of senior church positions and  cannot participate in these processes. The Prime Minister's  participation in the signing of this document constitutes direct  state intervention in a religious institution," Baghdasaryan  emphasized. He also noted that Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II  is not a state official, is not appointed by state bodies, and is not  subordinate to the executive branch. "The election and termination of  the Catholicos's powers is carried out exclusively on the basis of  the canon law of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the National  Church Assembly. Consequently, the participation of the Prime  Minister or any state body in this process is beyond their  competence. The fact that the document is signed by several bishops  does not change its legal nature or eliminate the unconstitutionality  of the Prime Minister's participation, nor does it replace the  authority of the National Church Assembly. The joint signature of the  Prime Minister and 10 bishops makes this document an act of state  interference in the internal affairs of a religious organization.  Such a document contradicts the principle of freedom of religion,  international standards of autonomy for religious organizations, and  Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Consequently,  it may be subject to international judicial and legal review," the  human rights activist concluded.

Last May, the Armenian Prime Minister launched a campaign against the  Armenian Apostolic Church. As part of this campaign, on the night of  January 5, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the so-  called "roadmap for the improvement" of the Armenian Apostolic Church  with 10 rebellious bishops. The "roadmap" consists of five points: a  public announcement of a reform program; the removal of the current  Catholicos; the election of a locum tenens of the patriarchal throne;  the adoption of a Church Charter, which should establish "mechanisms  for maintaining established principles, ensuring financial  transparency and proper behavior of the clergy"; and the election of  a Catholicos of All Armenians, "in accordance with the established  procedure." It should be noted that, according to the Constitution of  Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Church is separate from the state and  has a special mission.