Armenian authorities deprived the Armenian Church of the right to own land under temples

The Armenian Parliamentary Commission approved amendments to the Land Code, according to which land plots for churches will no longer be transferred to the Armenian Apostolic Church. Instead, agreements on free-of-charge use of state and municipal lands will be concluded with the Church. The changes were initiated by the Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, ArmInfo reports.

According to the proposal of Minister Asatur Vardanyan, the norm that allowed the free-of-charge transfer of lands to the ownership of the Church is canceled. Previously transferred plots will remain in the ownership of the AAC, and new lands will be provided exclusively on the rights of gratuitous use. The government says that the changes are aimed at streamlining legal relations between the state and the Church.

The Deputy Minister explained that the project provides for the abolition of part 2 of Article 64 of the Land Code, as the current Article 75 already allows the AAC to grant land plots for free use without competition. Earlier, the Armenian Church sued the former cleric for refusing to vacate the temple.

Recall, earlier we reported that the Armenian authorities are making attempts to prevent the departure of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and members of the Supreme Spiritual Council to the Council of Bishops, scheduled for February 16-19 in Austria. This was stated by lawyer Ruben Melikyan, commenting on the new criminal case against the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).