Protests were held in Moscow ahead of Pashinyan's arrival
On December 11, a protest took place in front of the Armenian Embassy in Moscow. Participants demanded that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was attending a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union Council, release persecuted clergy.
About 300 people, including clergy, activists, and members of the "SVO," gathered on Armenian Lane. Protesters declared the arrests of the clergy and businessman Samvel Karapetyan illegal, accusing the Armenian authorities of unconstitutional actions. Participants held posters with slogans in support of the Armenian Apostolic Church and calls for the release of those detained.
Among those detained, whose release the protesters were seeking, were Archbishop Mikael Ajapayan, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, Priest Garegin Arsenyan, Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Priest Paren Arakelyan, and Bagrat Galstanyan.
The rally took place against the backdrop of Pashinyan's statement that Armenia's withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is not yet on the table, but that the country is striving for EU membership.
