This is clearly a terrible information campaign for Armenia and the Armenian people. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated this at Wednesday’s press briefing—and commenting on the processes taking place around the Armenian Apostolic Church.

“Why? Because it divides society in Armenia. This concerns the values ​​and things that have always united Armenians and helped to overcome the difficult—sometimes even terrible—trials that have befallen the Armenian people.

“And now suddenly these fundamental, indisputable values—faith, religion, church—are artificially becoming almost a bone of contention. This is an artificially introduced discrimination not only in Armenia, but also among people living all over the world who are involved in Armenian culture and history.

“All this, for some reason, is being linked to Russia. What does Russia have to do with it? If there are questions about internal affairs, then this is internal history. But here everything is mixed up. On the one hand, accusations have been made against representatives of the Armenian [Apostolic] Church, on the other hand, what does Russia have to do with it?

“Russia is sincerely interested in the stability of fraternal Armenia simply because it is beneficial to us. It is not only a matter of lofty ideas, although first and foremost it is, but it is also beneficial at the same time. A stable, prosperous, developing Armenia with its sustainable development; that is how we [i.e. Russia] would like to see this state and this people.

“We are in favor of the observance of laws based on the constitution [of Armenia], ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens, including religious, especially when the [Armenian] authorities have spoken about this so publicly and have made it part of their election campaign,” added the Russian MFA spox.