Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, responding to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s concern about “attacks on the church,” said it would be better if Lavrov refrained from interfering in Armenia’s internal affairs and political life.

“I briefly reviewed my dear colleague Sergey Lavrov’s statement. I want to say that Mr. Lavrov’s information is incorrect and incomplete. If I’m not mistaken, he said there is a ‘struggle by authorities against the church.’ That information does not fit reality,” he said, Radar.am reports.

Mirzoyan stated that no such struggle exists in Armenia.

“What Mr. Lavrov likely refers to concerns some clergy interfering in Armenia’s politics, participating in political processes, and, according to our law‑enforcement, seeking to participate illegally—namely, attempting or initiating a coup. This is a legal process, and it is Armenia’s internal affair.

It would be better if Mr. Lavrov did not interfere in Armenia’s internal and political affairs,” he said.

Mirzoyan made the same appeal to Lavrov’s parliamentary colleagues and media partners:

“Russian officials, parliamentarians, and media experts must treat Armenia’s sovereignty with great respect and never again allow themselves to interfere in our internal affairs,” he said.