Video: Arthur Hovhannisyan's Speech on the Church Was Not Peaceful

The first session of the 9th convocation of the National Assembly continues, where MP Arthur Hovhannisyan from the 'Civil Contract' faction spoke, responding to the opposition's criticisms regarding the Church.

"I will start by saying that the Church, under the leadership of Ktrich Nersisyan, has begun to interfere..." the MP declared, whose words were interrupted by shouts from the hall. In response, National Assembly President Ruben Rubinyan urged the opposition colleagues not to interrupt the speaker.

"Dear colleagues, unpleasant expressions for you can be voiced from this podium. As long as no objective insults have been heard from this podium, I ask you to remain silent and listen. You have the opportunity to respond from this podium," Rubinyan said.

Hovhannisyan attempted to continue speaking but was once again interrupted from the hall. Rubinyan issued a warning to Lianna Gasparyan, an MP from the 'Strong Armenia' faction.

Continuing his point, Hovhannisyan emphasized again that the Church has started to intervene in the internal and foreign political matters of the Republic of Armenia.

"And that's not enough; there is information regarding at least two senior officials of the Church that they have violated the vow of celibacy. Considering that these circumstances undermine the pillars of the state, we stand by the Church; we support the Church, while you support those clerics who have violated the vow of celibacy and have become involved in politics, using religion and the Church to defend themselves, violating their vows and becoming involved in politics. I won't continue on other matters here.

And now, who is supporting the Church—us, or you, who defend those who have violated the vow of celibacy, or who say that those who have violated the vow of celibacy should leave the Church? Who stands by the Church here? Our people have given their assessment in any case. The problem between us is that we say the truth; you are fabricating it, and people see everything very clearly, hear everything, and know," the MP said, noting that the partners from 'Strong Armenia' have taken the same path as those from the 'Armenia' bloc and implied, "I assume with the same outcome," Arthur Hovhannisyan noted.