Armenian PM: Is it news to anyone that Garegin II is controlled from outside?

The Armenian National Security Service confirmed that Catholicos Ktrich Nersisyan, also known as Garegin II, was detained and deported in handcuffs to the USSR, as a KGB agent, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said. 

Speaking to reporters, Pashinyan said that it was not surprising that Nersisyan had ties to foreign intelligence, noting that such revelations are not necessarily scandalous, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media. 

He explained that the absence of a criminal case is due to Nersisyan’s Soviet citizenship at the time of his activities.

He noted that not all matters involving cooperation with foreign intelligence are handled through criminal proceedings, as there are also operational, counterintelligence, and intelligence measures. 

“The head of the New Nakhichevan diocese, Mkrtich Nersisyan, was a KGB agent. Is this a scandal or not? It doesn't seem like a scandal. Why? Because a scandal depends on who finances it. Since we don't finance scandals, there is no scandal! And those who finance scandals are not interested in this scandal, so there is no scandal! Is it news to anyone that Ktrich Nersisyan is being controlled from outside?” Pashinyan asked. 

By Sabina Mammadli