"I have already stated that Ktrich Nersisyan (Catholicos Garegin II) is not the Catholicos of All Armenians, and therefore, his decisions hold no value for us and are invalid."
Modern.az reports that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this while commenting on the decrees signed today by Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.
It should be noted that by a decree of Garegin II dated January 10, Bishop Gevork Saroyan was removed from his position as Primate of the Masiatsotn Diocese.
The main reasons cited for Gevork Saroyan's removal from his religious post were abuse of official powers, failure to perform his duties, and the application of pressure and violence against the clergy of the diocese.
By another decree of Garegin II, Bishop Ruben Zargaryan was appointed head of the diocese.
Nikol Pashinyan, however, rejected the aforementioned decrees of Garegin II, stating:
“Bishop Gevork Saroyan remains the Primate of the Masiatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church," the Prime Minister emphasized.
