Simonyan defends Pashinyan's language in church dispute

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan addressed the recent controversy surrounding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's comments about the Armenian Apostolic Church. Speaking to reporters, Simonyan asserted that Pashinyan did not cross any red lines or use profanity in his dispute with the church.

"I don't believe there was any profanity. Profanity involves the use of sexually explicit language," Simonyan stated, referencing a term used by Pashinyan that sparked public debate.

When asked if he would repeat the term in question, Simonyan responded, "'Banging'? Why wouldn't I repeat it? I do. The word 'profanity' has its definition. Everyone has their own way of expressing themselves and chooses the appropriate words for the moment."

Simonyan emphasized that the focus should be on the content of the discussion rather than the language used. He highlighted that the debate centers on whether such issues should be publicly addressed, not on the existence of the issues themselves.

The controversy began when Pashinyan, responding to criticism from clergy members over his comparison of churches to storage rooms during a government session, made several Facebook posts containing derogatory remarks about church officials. In one post, he suggested that the state should play a key role in the selection process of the Catholicos of All Armenians. In another, he questioned the celibacy of Catholicos Karekin II, implying that if he had violated his vow and fathered a child, he could not serve as Catholicos.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin responded, stating that such condemnable actions serve the interests of external anti-Armenian forces and align with Azerbaijani propaganda aimed at slandering the Armenian people and the Church.