Rev. Fr. Yesayi Artenyan: The authorities had been informed when His Holiness would visit Sardarapat

The authorities had been informed in advance about the planned visit of the Catholicos of All Armenians to Sardarapat Memorial, Rev. Fr. Yesayi Artenyan, the head of the Information Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, told ABC Media.

“The person in charge of our protocol department checked the schedule with their protocol department and was told that the authorities would visit the memorial in the morning. We told them that His Holiness would visit the memorial after the liturgy at 2:00 p.m.,” Rev. Fr. Yesayi Artenyan said.

To remind, today the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the Catholicos was refused entry into the memorial because his name was not on the guest list.

Nikol Pashinyan said the same, noting that His Holiness did not have an invitation, and they were not aware that he was expecting an invitation.

“The police simply tried to find out whether His Holiness came to join the provocative actions initiated by his political supporters and the movement he leads, or for some other purpose,” Pashinyan said.