Armenia’s Minister of Justice, Srbuhi Galyan, considers the sharing of videos of personal life completely unacceptable. This refers to a private video allegedly showing an archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, the minister reminded that certain services are authorized to record videos of private life for operational purposes.

“I can only say that the phenomenon is unacceptable. Any interference in personal life, especially if accompanied by the publication of private information, is unacceptable and punishable under criminal law. I assume that sooner or later a criminal case should be opened. If the video is not fake, citizens should submit a complaint and a criminal case will be initiated,” the minister stated.

In response to questions about ongoing wiretapping, she reiterated that only specific services have the legal right to conduct it for specific purposes, and only with court permission. “Unauthorized use of information must receive an appropriate response, and those who illegally used and published it must be punished,” Galyan emphasized.

Regarding the claim that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was the first to publish similar materials, informing the public about alleged breaches of celibacy by certain high-ranking clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and that the aforesaid video would not exist without those publications, the minister responded: “Maybe, maybe not.” According to her, the prime minister’s main point was that church officials should not abandon their mission and engage in politics, and it is unacceptable for the church to have servants acting with false positions.