Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin issued a statement on the post-election developments in Armenia.

“We give high assessment to Armenian people’s sanity that ensured the conduction of peaceful elections. Considering the reports by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Armenia and the observer missions, Holy Etchmiadzin deems it unacceptable to make the church a target for political manipulations. We urge Armenian people to preserve the spirit of solidarity, fight intolerance and hatred.

We also urge Raffi Hovannisian to stop his hunger strike and choose more constructive ways of political struggle. The church deems this way of protest a life threatening action,” the statement reads.