Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan declined to comment on the Armenian authorities' refusal to allow Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II to travel to Georgia to attend the funeral of Patriarch Ilia II.

Speaking to journalists on March 23, the Minister, when asked to comment on the matter, stated that it was not addressed to the Foreign Ministry as it concerned legal issues.

To recall, the Catholicos has been placed under a travel ban as a preventive measure in the framework of a criminal case. His petition to be permitted to attend the Patriarch's funeral was denied.