GENEVA (Realist English). The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed deep concern over the recent arrests of Armenian clergy and the actions of law enforcement authorities in Echmiadzin, the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).
In an official statement, WCC General Secretary Jerry Pillay affirmed the Council’s solidarity with the AAC and called for the protection of the dignity and rights of religious leaders and institutions. He urged all parties to refrain from steps or rhetoric that could incite hostility toward religious bodies.
The Council emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue between the Armenian state and ecclesiastical institutions and called for a peaceful resolution to the emerging crisis.
The WCC’s statement comes amid escalating tensions between the Armenian government and the Apostolic Church. Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused the Church’s spiritual headquarters of being controlled by what he described as an “anti-Christian, immoral, and anti-state group” that must be “expelled.” Pashinyan said he would personally oversee the process.
The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the world’s oldest Christian institutions, has repeatedly called on authorities to cease political pressure and respect its autonomy.