Arman Babajanyan, the chairman of the “For the Republic” party, wrote on his Facebook page:
“Of course, it is not our business whether you are celibate or not, how many children you have, who is your cousin, or how much your wine is worth. This is a matter of your conscience, community, and faith.
But, as children of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, we are concerned with another, much deeper question: will you find the strength to rise above all personal and political interests at this crucial moment? Will you be the spiritual father of everyone, including those who do not share your geopolitical views, including those whom you are accustomed to denigrating or simply ignoring?
We do not expect you to stand on the side of this or that government. We expect you to stand on the side of Armenia, not in word, but in deed. Your position and voice should be loud, fair, and neutral regarding the state interests of Armenia. When the Patriarch of Russia awards Aliyev, you must speak up. When Putin awards you, you are compelled to speak up.
Create foundations, support the creation of universities, help students who cannot afford tuition, and attract investors for Armenia’s spiritual, intellectual, scientific, economic, and social future. Your connections, authority, and word can make all of this a reality, provided that your priority is Armenia, not the interests of another state.
We are not discussing the abundance of your tables, the number of diamonds on your cross, or your luxurious life. But there is one thing above all, whether we are believers or not, whether we are from the church community or the political sphere: the statehood of Armenia.
The statehood of Armenia can never be subordinate to any ideology, any religious system, or any external force. It cannot be subordinate. “The statehood of Armenia is the only and inviolable guarantee of our nation’s right to live, survive, and develop.
And the flag of that statehood must always be flown at the highest. As a generation given the right to live and create on this land, we must uphold that flag in a way worthy of your prayers and our struggle.”
