Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on March 29 that he had not given instructions to detain participants of the incident at Yerevan’s St. Anne’s Church.
“The police do not need additional orders to perform their duties,” Pashinyan said in a statement to a news agency. He refused further comment.
The incident occurred during a divine service on the same day. One parishioner expressed discomfort with the appearance of the Prime Minister’s security guard and notified the person accompanying him. At that moment, another believer attempted to strike a bodyguard. Pashinyan instructed his staff to calm the participants and not push anyone away.
Interior Minister Narek Sargsyan confirmed that two individuals were detained on suspicion of hooliganism and interference in the legitimate official and political activities of an official.
The incident has also been reported to have provoked a split among supporters of Catholicos Karekin II.
