The Armenian Apostolic Church does not interfere in politics, but the Constitution does not prohibit it from raising its voice in defense of the country’s spiritual security, Archbishop Yezras Nersisian, head of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, said, TASS reported.

“The Church, based on its mission, has never interfered in the affairs of the state. This provision is enshrined in Articles 17 and 18 of the Constitution: the Church is separate from the state and does not engage in politics. The authorities, in turn, have no right to interfere in the internal life of the Church. At the same time, according to the Constitution, the Church is not prohibited from raising the voice of justice in support of the nation and the spiritual security of the country,” the archbishop said.

Commenting on criminal cases initiated against clergy members, Archbishop Nersisian described them as “artificial.”

“Everything was done to prevent six bishops from attending a high-level gathering of church leaders held in Austria. The authorities feared that the meeting would condemn their anti-church policy. Nevertheless, 25 bishops participated in the gathering.

An absurd accusation has been brought against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II for allegedly failing to comply with a court decision to reinstate former bishop Saroyan in his position and restore his clerical rank,” the archbishop said.

He did not rule out that more extreme measures could be taken against the Catholicos.

“The authorities are using all administrative resources, driven by political motives, to discredit clergy and sow intolerance toward the Church,” he said.

On February 14, it became known that Armenia’s Prosecutor’s Office had initiated criminal prosecution against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on charges of failing to implement a court ruling related to the case of the former head of the Masis Diocese, and had banned him from leaving Armenia.