The Hraparak daily of Armenia writes as follows, in particular: Our source close to the Mother See [of Holy Etchmiadzin] says that even after this shameful campaign of the authorities against the [Armenian Apostolic] Church, Catholicos [of All Armenians] Karekin II is against escalating the situation and is very cautious.

For example, he was against the roundtable with the participation of lawyers and clergy, they convinced him with great difficulty that there was nothing wrong with that—something like this should be organized. He was against also [Armenian businessman and philanthropist] Samvel Karapetyan making a statement [against the authorities and in support of the Armenian Apostolic Church]. It is known that Karapetyan had given that short interview to the NEWS.am correspondent right in Etchmiadzin after the reception with the Holy Father.

He [i.e. the Catholicos] is trying to control, calm the radical-minded clergy and the faithful as much as possible so that the matter does not reach clashes, and he still hopes that this phase of [PM] Nikol Pashinyan's escalation [against the Armenian Apostolic Church] will pass soon.