The Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) European Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy has issued a strongly worded statement expressing “deep concern and indignation” over the upcoming “Prayer Breakfast” set to take place in Yerevan on November 14–15 at the initiative of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The committee accused Armenia’s current leadership of “instrumentalizing religious traditions for political ends,” claiming such acts undermine the genuine spiritual and reconciliatory intent of prayer gatherings.
“This initiative is clearly aimed at distracting from the government’s ongoing anti-democratic actions and its systematic campaign of pressure against the Armenian Apostolic Church — a spiritual pillar of the Armenian people,” the statement reads.
The committee has appealed to European spiritual and political figures, urging them to seriously reconsider attending the event in light of these concerns.
Participation, they warned, should not be interpreted as silent support for the Armenian government's stance or indifference to continued violations of democratic norms and religious freedoms in the country.
For those European guests who still choose to attend, the committee proposed concrete actions:
- Reaffirm their commitment to democracy, human rights, and religious liberty;
- Publicly condemn the persecution and threats against the Armenian Apostolic Church and its clergy;
- Seek meetings with imprisoned clergy and political prisoners — including businessman Samvel Karapetyan — to learn firsthand about their detention conditions and charges;
- Visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and meet with His Holiness Karekin II to hear the Church’s perspective on the state of religious freedom and church-state relations in Armenia.
The committee emphasized that true partnership between Europe and Armenia must rest on shared values of justice, democracy, and freedom of conscience.
The two-day event will begin at the National Gallery with panel discussions on topics such as business ethics, the example of Donald Trump, family, and faith. The breakfast itself will be held at the Armenia Marriott Hotel on the second day, followed by visits to Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Museum, and a cultural evening at the Youth Theatre.
