Statement

We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, express our deep concern regarding the alarming developments that have recently taken place in Armenia. Today, we are witnessing violations of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the principle of the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedoms, and the independence of the judiciary, as well as a gross breach of the autonomy of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church (the Church), a right protected by the Constitution and international conventions.

Representatives of Armenia’s executive and legislative branches continue to interfere with the autonomy and freedom of the Church’s activities, in violation of the Constitution and the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations, international norms on freedom of religion or belief, and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The authorities’ unlawful and unacceptable attempts to influence the formation of ecclesiastical governance bodies and internal decision-making processes are deeply concerning. Equally unacceptable are attempts to arbitrarily edit or alter the Church’s centuries-old traditions, rites, sacraments, canonical order, and other domains of ecclesial life.

We strongly condemn the exertion of pressure on Church clergy by state security bodies of the Republic of Armenia, including the National Security Service. Such conduct constitutes an abuse of official power and an impermissible deviation from the aims and functions of the National Security Service.

We are also concerned by the selective use of criminal justice tools against clergy, for the purpose of exerting unlawful and undue influence, including the use of pre-trial detention as a punitive measure and as a means of compelling behaviour desired by public authorities.

It is unacceptable that public officials at the highest political level continue to promote rhetoric targeting clergy with hate speech and insults, as well as unlawfully disseminating personal information, using both public and private information channels. We believe that such actions may severely undermine the country’s already fragile social cohesion, leading to deeper polarisation and intolerance.
We firmly believe that any reform or renewal within the Church must take place inside the Church itself, grounded in the principles of freedom and autonomy of religious organisation, in accordance with the Constitution and Armenia’s international legal obligations, without any discrimination and on an equal footing with other religious organisations.

In view of the above, we reiterate our demands:

• From representatives of public authorities, and especially from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: to refrain from any actions that violate the RA Constitution, domestic laws, or Armenia’s international legal obligations; to respect the Church’s freedom and autonomy; and to cease exerting unlawful influence on judicial bodies and law-enforcement agencies.
• From President Vahagn Khachaturyan: to fulfil his function of overseeing adherence to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.
• From public officials: to exercise restraint in their public statements; to observe the ethical and behavioural standards required of public office-holders; and to refrain from speech that disseminates hate, intolerance, discrimination, or insult.
• From judges: to exercise their powers independently, in compliance with the Constitution and human rights standards, including the right to liberty and the principle that pre-trial detention must be applied only as an exceptional measure.
• From the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor’s Office: to ensure independent and effective investigations, guided solely by the requirements of the Constitution and the law; and to safeguard the rights of all individuals involved in proceedings, including respect for the presumption of innocence.
• From the Police and the National Security Service: to carry out their functions independently and strictly in accordance with the demands of the Constitution and the law; and to refrain from the disproportionate and unnecessary use of force or from violating individuals’ rights.

Organisations:

Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO
Regional Centre for Democracy and Security
Yerevan Press Club
Armenian Progressive Youth NGO
Public Journalism Club
Journalists for Human Rights NGO
Centre for Law and Freedom NGO
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Armenian Committee
Helsinki Association Human Rights NGO
Media Initiatives Centre
Yezidi Centre for Human Rights
Centre for Community Mobilization and Support NGO
Individuals:
Gayane Shagoyan, Cultural Anthropologist
Isabella Sargsyan, International Expert on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Zaruhi Hovhannisyan, Human Rights Defender, New Justice Culture NGO
Armen Martirosyan, Publisher
Tigran Paskevichyan, Journalist–Publicist
Sarhat Petrosyan, Architect–Urban Planner
Inga Harutyunyan, Psychologist, Social Protection Specialist
Apres Zohrabyan, Orientalist
Aram Khanalanyan, Architect–Theorist
Arsen Hakobyan, Cultural Anthropologist
Maria Sadoyan, Translator
Mushegh Hovsepyan, Human Rights Defender
Nune Torosyan, Teacher, Translator, Editor
Ruben Malayan, Calligrapher, Lecturer
Vardan Harutyunyan, Human Rights Defender
Mariam Movsisyan, Communications Specialist