Pashinyan denies involvement behind clergymen's arrests

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has denied allegations that he is behind the law enforcement actions against several clergymen suspected of election meddling. 

Pashinyan told reporters on Thursday that he does not have the authority to give such orders and that there are no public officials in Armenia willing to carry out unlawful instructions.

He said he learned about the arrests of the clergymen from the news.

He was asked to comment on the timing of the arrests in relation to his criticism of the church leadership.

“I do not have the authority to give orders to everyone, and I don’t believe there are officials in Armenia willing to carry out illegal instructions. State institutions in Armenia operate within the scope of their delegated powers and rights. I have learned from the news that a report of a crime was made and that there was a response to it,” he said, ruling out any illegal actions by the law enforcement agencies.