Pashinyan admits NSS is persuading clergy to omit the Patriarch’s name – this constitutes a crime: Vanetsyan

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has confirmed that the National Security Service (NSS) is approaching priests and persuading them to omit the name of His Holiness the Patriarch, which amounts to a direct admission of a criminal act. This was stated by Artur Vanetsyan, leader of the Homeland Party and former director of the NSS, during the 24News program “Tracking with Narek Galstyan.”

“The Prosecutor General’s Office is obliged to initiate criminal proceedings against both Nikol Pashinyan and the NSS officers involved,” Vanetsyan said.

He noted that in the past, if law enforcement agencies took actions against opposition figures, these were carried out discreetly and not publicly exposed, as such matters were considered unacceptable for political authorities to handle openly.

“This will pass. I say it again, it will pass. In five or ten years, everyone will be held accountable and asked: why did you do this, who needed it? Why are you fighting against our faith?” Vanetsyan stated.

Vanetsyan added that, under these circumstances, His Holiness the Patriarch should at the very least dismiss the ten apostates.

“Perhaps there will not be enough authority to depose him, but at a minimum he should dismiss them and appoint new diocesan leaders. Only then can the true Church be restored,” he concluded.