An investigation has been launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office into the world leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin II, following claims that he 'denigrated Turkishness' in remarks made during his recent visit to Istanbul.

A complaint was lodged at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office by both Recep Akkus and the strongly-nationalist Turkish Lawyers Union. The Istanbul Prosecution Office has opened an investigation into the matter.

Catholicos Garegin II stated last Sunday evening at a press conference at the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate in the Kumkapi quarter in Istanbul that Turkey must recognize the killings of 1.5 million of Armenians during the final years of the Ottoman Empire as Genocide, reported Cihan news agency.

Zaman Turkish newspaper writes that 200,000 Armenians died during forced migrations due to cold weather and bad transportation conditions.

To note, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday of last week as the guest of Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate Mesrob II and the Fener Greek Orthodox Partriarchate Bartholomeos.