The Iravunk daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes as follows, in particular: The bishops who met with RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted in their statement, in particular: “We are very saddened by the unhealthy atmosphere that exists within and around our [Armenian Apostolic] Church in recent months, which is troubling all our souls. All this perhaps would not have happened if the 1999 Catholicos [of All Armenians] election had been fair, without intimidation.”

Essentially, this is a statement that during the Catholicos elections of October 27, 1999, intimidations took place that were aimed at influencing the outcome of the election of the incumbent Catholicos [Karekin II].

Has a criminal case been initiated on the basis of the abovementioned statement to determine whether intimidations occurred and the circle of people who ordered them? We had addressed the same question to both the prosecutor’s office and the Investigative Committee [of Armenia]. Both places responded that the noted statement has not been examined by them at this time, adding that if it is examined, they will address our question.

Something interesting happens: when [Armenian Apostolic Church] clergy with an opposition orientation slightly "pinch" the [incumbent] authorities with public speech, the “examination” by law enforcement and taking four bishops to prison one after the other does not delay.

But in this case, 10 bishops have made a written statement about a state-level crime. And it turns out that this has not even “been examined.” Well, let us hope that at least now they will examine [it]?