Why Are Crosses and Khachkars Being Dismantled? - "Hraparak"

According to the newspaper "Hraparak", news was published yesterday stating that the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, Gnel Sanosyan, has sent instructions to community leaders to support the dismantling of crosses, khachkars, and monuments installed along interstate and republican roads.

We asked His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church's Tavush Diocese, how he views this decision. He replied, "If this is the case, there should be an explanation as to why, what the reasoning is, and secondly, it would be better for them to address the useless, dirty kiosks along those interstate roads and generally in the streets, known as 'butkas', and the ugly constructions that occur every day without any standards, without any criteria; that is their responsibility. Are the crosses left and harming themselves? I do not understand. There are also illegally installed statues—including those of their political leader. Will those be dismantled as well?"

There is an opinion that crosses and khachkars are being removed from the roads as a gesture of goodwill to Azerbaijan, so that if one day Azerbaijanis pass through Armenia, they will not see a cross or khachkar. Bishop Bagrat responded, "I cannot provide any commentary; I honestly do not know what the decision is, nor do I understand its content or logic. There can be every subtext imaginable."