"Fact" daily writes:
For years, opposition figures from various international forums have raised various issues regarding violations of democratic norms by one or another government in our country or other issues.
It has been so under all previous presidents. And although it is natural, even in that case, those oppositionists who crossed certain "red lines" "outside" received sharp criticism. However, years ago, it was not possible even in the worst dreams that the head of the state would stand at any international podium and protest, more precisely, against the Armenian Apostolic Church and the opposition.
Pashinyan did that yesterday. "With the encouragement of the de facto head of our church, one of the archbishops started a movement in Armenia," Pashinyan said during his speech in the European Parliament. In other words, even "outside" he allows himself to use the wording "de facto head of the church", not Catholicos. The delegates of Azerbaijan and Turkey spoke about the Armenian Church on international platforms in a constantly sarcastic, disgruntled, offensive tone. Now the "de facto head" of Armenia has joined them.
Moreover, he did not hide the main reason for his "anger", that is, a movement had started in Armenia "to demand not only demarcation, but also, in fact, to activate the Karabakh movement". Moreover, he gives a clear message to Europe that the Karabakh issue is closed and he will not allow it to be reopened. Here, of course, he did not forget to complain about the "oppositionists who support the clergy".
It is clear that during a special "report" in the European Parliament, the phrases "KGB agents", "war party", "former leaders of Armenia", "Russian-resident and pro-Belarusian oligarchs" should have been used to win the applause of the European officials (not standing, but a light encouragement: "live, sit, five").
Apparently, Nikol Pashinyan was very hurt by the fact that opposition figures often complain to the Europeans who support them about how much he has distanced Armenia from democracy.
And he confirms it in his speech. "I wouldn't have addressed the topic of the involvement of some clergy if I hadn't seen how the emissaries of those clergy and representatives of some lobbyist organizations affiliated with them are trying to spread the word in the European Parliament and other prestigious international structures that the Armenian government is restricting freedom of conscience, that a dictatorship is being established in Armenia, or that there are political prisoners in Armenia."
We don't know who exactly he means, but whoever or whoever said all that, it seems they didn't tell any lies.
Details in today's issue of "Past" daily
