STATEMENT
Europe, February 17, 2026
We, the members of the “Europeans for Artsakh” movement, are following with deep concern and indignation the overt persecution carried out by the current authorities of the Republic of Armenia against the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
Recent events, specifically the arbitrary restriction of the Catholicos’s right to free movement and the ban on his departure from Armenia, constitute a gross violation of fundamental human rights and democratic principles.
In this regard, we declare:
- For centuries, the Church has been a pillar of Armenian statehood and identity. The targeted campaigns by Nikol Pashinyan’s administration against the ecclesiastical hierarchy aim to weaken the spiritual resilience of the Armenian people.
- The ban on the Catholicos of All Armenians from leaving the country is not only a matter of personal persecution but also an insult to all Armenians and the authority of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
- We see a direct link between the authorities’ failed policies regarding the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and the attacks against the Church. The Church, as an unwavering defender of the rights of Artsakh, is today being punished for its national stance.
We call upon:
The Authorities of the Republic of Armenia: To immediately cease the repressions against the clergy and to respect the mission of the Church as guaranteed by the Constitution.
International Organizations: To pay attention to the dictatorial steps being carried out in Armenia under the guise of democracy and the restriction of religious freedoms.
The Armenians of Europe stand by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians, and will counteract the policies of these nation-destroying authorities.
“Europeans for Artsakh”
Signatories: Karen Arevian, Murad Papazian, Karen Tadevosyan, Nubar Vardanian, Jonathan Spangenberg, Catherine Hakobyan, Arthur Allaverdyan, Nazar Avagyan, Vahan Ainejian, Sahak Chalykyan, Zareh Nazarian, Vahe Mkhitaryan, Alexander Sargsyan, Sargis Shahinian.
Representing: England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Portugal, Czech Republic, Switzerland.
