Differences of opinion have come to light between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, according to His Holiness Archbishop Arshak Khachatrian, the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh. In an interview for the “Pressing” news program, Archbishop Khachatrian expressed his disbelief at how information about the decision-making process on ecclesiastical matters is being presented. He emphasized that until 2020, Artsakh was considered part of Armenia, and after that, it became part of Azerbaijan. Without official statements to authenticate the change in Artsakh, he finds it difficult to appreciate the validity of the arguments put forward regarding church decisions in the region.

Archbishop Khachatrian further stated that while he does not want to give any labels to the debates, they have emerged within the context of the ecclesiastical decisions being discussed. He believes that spiritual solutions are necessary to address the complex challenges surrounding the Artsakh issue, as they go beyond the capacities of individuals. He has repeatedly advised to keep politics out of the matter and let those who are not burdened with responsibility handle it. However, he criticized Bishop Pashinyan for disrupting the journey roadmap and for making far-sighted decisions possible.

Addressing another question, Archbishop Khachatrian emphasized that determining the course of the country is not the role of an individual. While people may struggle to accept their mistakes, a leader should be capable of change. He highlighted the importance of not allowing the resolution of the issue to come at the cost of lives and stressed that it should be resolved through legal processes rather than through verdicts after death.

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