Against the background of the pre-election processes and discussions of the programs of political forces in Armenia, the leader of the Unity movement Arman Vardanyan, in an interview with the Past newspaper, commented on the provisions of the election program of the ruling Civil Contract party concerning the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).
According to Arman Vardanyan, today public attention is mainly focused on election promises, social initiatives, slogans and high-profile political statements. However, at the same time, one of the most dangerous points of the ruling power's program is practically not discussed — an attempt at the so-called "reform" of the AAC, interference in its internal and spiritual life, as well as changes in the principles of church governance.
"I, like many politically literate people and our supporters, have always considered and continue to consider this approach extremely dangerous for the preservation of Armenian identity and Armenian statehood," Arman Vardanyan said, VERELQ reports.
He stressed that this is not about the personality of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, but about the principles on which the AAC has existed for centuries.
"The issue lies in those spiritual, moral and national foundations, thanks to which the Armenian people were able to preserve their identity even during periods of absence of statehood," he said.
According to Arman Vardanyan, it was the AAC that preserved the Armenian language, culture, historical memory and national unity during the most difficult periods of Armenian history for centuries.
"Therefore, today the struggle is not against individuals, but against the spiritual and national foundations of the Armenian people," the leader of the Unity movement stressed.
Touching upon the elections, Arman Vardanyan noted that any voter who votes for the Civil Contract party should understand that by doing so he actually supports the implementation of the entire election program of this political force. At the same time, he expressed his conviction that the overwhelming majority of citizens do not study party programs in detail, but focus mainly on actively promoted topics — social reforms, healthcare, a peace treaty and the so-called "European integration".
Arman Vardanyan also stressed that any attempts to present the election results as a "popular mandate" to interfere in the internal and spiritual life of the Armenian Apostolic Church are illegitimate.
"And regardless of the election results, regardless of which political force is in power, interference in the internal and spiritual life of the Armenian Apostolic Church has always been, remains and will remain illegitimate," he said.
"The struggle against the Armenian Apostolic Church destroys the legitimacy of any government," Arman Vardanyan stressed.