Media: Armenia’s National Security Service blocks bishops’ meeting

A bishops’ meeting planned for 10–12 December was reportedly cancelled under pressure from Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS), Armenian newspaper Hraparak reports, citing sources.

The NSS allegedly warned Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II of “undesirable consequences” if the meeting went ahead. Sources further claimed that the agency named specific clergy who could face arrest.

“They made it clear that the meeting would not be allowed: they would either block the entry of clergy arriving from abroad or prevent them from returning to their dioceses,” the report said.

According to Hraparak, in order to avoid further escalation, Garegin II decided to cancel the gathering.

By Vugar Khalilov