The church has begun to interfere in the internal and external political issues of Armenia. Arthur Hovhannisyan's speech did not go by quietly.
07-08-2026 13:15 Armenia Politics
1lurer. The first session of the 9th convocation of the National Assembly continues, during which MP Arthur Hovhannisyan from the "Civil Contract" faction delivered a speech responding to the opposition's criticisms regarding the Church:
"I will start by saying that the Church, under the leadership of Ktrich Nersisyan, has begun to interfere ...," the MP declared, his words interrupted by shouts from the hall.
In response, National Assembly President Ruben Rubinyan urged his opposition colleagues not to interrupt the speaker:
"Dear colleagues, unpleasant expressions may be heard from this podium. As long as no objective insult has been voiced from this podium, I ask you to be silent and listen. You have the opportunity to respond from this podium," Rubinyan said:
Hovhannisyan tried to continue speaking, but was interrupted again from the hall. Rubinyan issued a warning to Lianna Gasparyan, an MP from the "Strong Armenia" faction:
Continuing his point, Hovhannisyan again emphasized that the Church has begun to interfere in the internal and foreign political issues of the Republic of Armenia:
"And this is not enough, there is information regarding at least two high-ranking officials of the Church that they have violated the oath of party loyalty. And considering that these mentioned circumstances undermine the pillars of the state, we stand by the Church, we defend the Church, while you defend those clergymen who have violated the oath of party loyalty and have interfered in politics, using religion and the Church to defend themselves, to justify their violation of the oath, their involvement in politics, not to mention other matters. I will not continue elsewhere."
"And now who is defending the Church—us or you, who defend the violation of the oath of party loyalty, or who says that those who have violated the oath of party loyalty should leave the Church, who is standing by the Church here? Our people have given their assessment in any case. Our problem and your problem is that we speak the truth, you fabricate it, and people see, hear, and know everything very well," the MP said, noting that the "Strong Armenia" colleagues have gone through that path from the "Armenia" alliance, and now they are going through it too:
"I assume with the same outcome," Arthur Hovhannisyan noted:
Author: Karmen Ghukasyan
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
