According to the 2011 data, 67 religious organizations are registered in Armenia. 9 of them belong to Armenian Apostolic Church; the rest are affiliates of different sects, said the head of the Center for Aid and Rehabilitation to the Victims of Destructive Cults.

“Religious organizations, whose activity is kept secret, are more dangerous and, thus, destructive,” Alexander Amaryan told a press conference in Yeravan.

Father Shmavon Ghevondyan of St. Hovhannes Church (Ararat Patriarchal Diocese), in turn, noted that in contrast to sects, all information about Armenian Apostolic Church and its activity is open for public through books and different websites.

“Sects disadvantage from people's awareness about the faith propaganda inside them, since people would compare sects with the church, which would result in a significant decrease of sect followers’ number,” he stressed.