The Danish Council of Churches has issued an official statement addressed to Nikol Pashinyan, expressing serious concern over recent developments in Armenia, particularly the detention of several bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
In its statement, the Council emphasized that the Armenian Apostolic Church is a sister church and noted that its Danish community is a member of the Council. The organization warned that the reported actions raise concerns about pressure on fundamental human rights, including freedom of thought, conscience, and religion—rights protected under international conventions such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, both of which Armenia has ratified.
The Council underscored the Armenian Apostolic Church’s central role in Armenian history, culture, and identity, describing it as a historic institution deserving of respect and protection in the lawful exercise of its activities. It called on Armenian authorities to ensure that any legal proceedings involving church leaders are conducted in full accordance with the principles of the rule of law, proportionality, and freedom of religion, with particular reference to the four bishops currently in detention.
According to the statement, the Danish Council of Churches, along with other European churches, is closely monitoring the ongoing court cases. The Council appealed to Armenian authorities to safeguard the country’s centuries-old Christian tradition and to uphold dialogue, legal trust, and respect for fundamental freedoms as guiding values of Armenian society.
The statement was signed by Peter Birch, Bishop of Elsinore of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark and President of the Danish Council of Churches, and concluded with a biblical appeal for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
