Father Yesayi Artenyan, head of the Information Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, stated that claims about the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and demands for the defrocking of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan are false, according to Sputnik Armenia.
“The information circulated in the press about the resignation of His Holiness and the defrocking of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan does not correspond to reality and is false. Regarding the videos of alleged indecent content attributed to the Archbishop, His Holiness has set up a commission to examine the matter and provide a conclusion, based on submitted proposals,” said Father Yesayi.
On October 25, a newly created Telegram channel called “Armenian Wikileaks” published an intimate video allegedly involving Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chief of Staff of the Mother See. The Archbishop responded, saying that even under extreme pressure, he is not inclined to refute fabricated and defamatory materials, preferring to ignore them.
On October 27, Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office launched a review of a complaint submitted by the Union of Informed Citizens. The Investigative Committee has opened a case for violation of privacy, involving the alleged use of special technical equipment for secretly gathering information.
