I come from my homeland, the Republic of Armenia, a strong country, rich in talented and hardworking people. A nation that has been subjected to genocide, oppression, blockades, seen wars, but has never lost faith. Lawyer Aram Vardevanyan stated this in his address at the annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington D.C.
Vardevanyan added as follows: “In 301, Armenia adopted Christianity as its state religion, which made our country the first Christian nation. For centuries, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church has preserved our national, religious and cultural identity. In difficult times, even in the absence of sovereignty, the Church has remained our anchor, uniting Armenians in the homeland and in the Diaspora.
In recent years, the Armenian people have faced new difficulties. The 44-day war in Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh) in 2020], followed by the forced displacement of more than 120,000 [Artsakh] Armenians from their homes. Centuries-old [Armenian] Christian churches and monasteries have been vandalized [by Azerbaijan], depriving Christian Armenians of places of worship where holy relics were kept.
As we speak, Christian Armenians are being held as political prisoners in Azerbaijan, where at least 19 of them are currently held. It is noteworthy that [US] President [Donald] Trump has publicly supported the release of Armenian captives in Baku.
While the Armenian [Armenian] Church has been subjected to religious persecution by foreign powers, today we are witnessing an unimaginable phenomenon: interference in our Church by the ruling forces and government of Armenia. Since last spring, leading figures in the executive branch of Armenia’s government have demanded the resignation of the Catholicos of All Armenians [Karekin II], the leader of the Armenian Holy Church. This is the same as if the leader of a Catholic country demanded the resignation of the Pope.
Four bishops of the [Armenian] Apostolic Church remain in [pretrial] detention. Six priests of our Apostolic Church have been charged, with their freedom of movement being restricted. These charges violate due process and contradict legal guarantees. Last June, the largest donor to the Apostolic Church, [Russian Armenian businessman] Samvel Karapetyan, whom I have the honor to represent, was also arrested and detained.
When a reporter asked Mr. Karapetyan about the persecution of the Church, he stated that he had always stood with the Armenian Church and will participate in its defense, and I quote, ‘in our own way.’
In response to these words, the prime minister of Armenia made a public statement. A few hours later, Mr. Karapetyan’s home was searched, and he was arrested and detained on charges of publicly calling for a seizure of power [in Armenia]. For those words alone, Mr. Karapetyan spent 200 days in the most difficult conditions, in a penal institution known as the ‘KGB basement.’
The Armenian government has turned its power into a weapon against our Church. Pretrial detention has become a punishment, which is unacceptable. Our national benefactor and holy leaders have become political prisoners in our own country.
In my 15 years of practicing law, I have never seen such blatant violations of religious freedom. A year ago, US Vice President JD Vance made a very important statement: ‘We must do more than talk about democratic values. We must live them.’
I believe that it is through this resolution that success is possible. I pray that together we can promote and better protect religious freedom not in words, but in deeds. I pray for the freedom of all those who are illegally detained and subjected to unlawful persecution in my wonderful country and abroad.
Thank you, may God protect everyone.”
The International Religious Freedom Summit is partnered with the “Our Way” movement.
To note, the “In Our Way” movement is a partner of the International Religious Freedom Summit.
