The Mother See of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy Etchmiadzin) has criticized Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikh-ul-islam Allahshukur Pashazade for making false statements regarding the Karabakh conflict at the October 20 meeting of the Council of Muslim Religious Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Shushi.

Etchmiadzin, in a statement released today, says Pashazade failed to address its concerns regarding Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing in Karabakh and the destruction of Armenian cultural monuments.

Etchmiadzin’s statement, in part, reads.

“The president of the Caucasus Muslims Office, who supposedly emphasizes the peaceful coexistence of peoples, contrary to the spirit of the messages adopted in the tripartite meetings of spiritual leaders, is at the same time silent about Azerbaijan's continued aggression, militancy and Armenian hatred, invasions of the sovereign territory of Armenia, daily provocations at the borders, shelling of peaceful settlements, illegal detention of Armenian prisoners of war and evidence   of torturing, brutally depriving life, mutilating and desecrating the bodies of the victims, violating the right to free and independent life of our people of Artsakh, destroying and usurping the Armenian historical, cultural and spiritual heritage, which are clearly and well documented by the international community and structures.”

Pashazade, based in Azerbaijan, is regarded as the Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus which includes Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Georgia, and Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Karachay–Cherkessia, and Adygea in the Russian Federation.