American Christians join Armenia's inaugural Prayer Breakfast, reject 'war on faith' claims - CBN
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The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) has covered the inaugural Armenia Prayer Breakfast, stressing that the local and American spiritual leaders who attended the event have denied the claims that Armenia's prime minister is "at war with Christianity."
“Tucker Carlson recently claimed Armenia's prime minister is "at war with Christianity." But leaders here in Yerevan — including prominent American Christians — say that narrative simply doesn't match the facts on the ground,” Chuck Holton wrote in the article published by CBN. "Armenia's inaugural national prayer breakfast brought together government and faith leaders to focus on the future of this fragile nation. Despite loud claims abroad that Christianity is under attack here, churches are open, worship is free, and spiritual leaders are seated alongside top officials," he added.
"So this prime minister, who's clearly authoritarian by definition, is against the church," Tucker Carlson had argued. "So the idea is to break the back of Orthodox Christianity and of traditional Christianity in Armenia, and to use the police to do it."
Holton spoke with Armenian experts, who said that Carlson's assertion leaves out critical context.
“Armenian experts say that Carlson's assertion leaves out critical context. They dispute his accusation that recent arrests of two clergymen had anything to do with practicing their faith. Armenian political analyst Elen Hokhikyan said, "Two of them, especially, have been engaged in political activism. Let me put it that way. One of them has urged the military to stage a coup, and when he was pressed on the matter, he reiterated his stance on the point. The other one has organized an opposition movement for Armenia's attempt to somehow become more sovereign, to pursue its own diplomacy. Somehow, made Russia to engage more actively into the external affairs of Armenia."
“These political clashes come as Armenia tries to break free from decades of Russian influence. Some American Christian leaders who met with Armenia's prime minister say the "war on Christianity" claims are not just wrong, they serve Russia's interests,” Chuck Holton continues.
Former Rep. Louie Gohmert said, "When I was invited to come, I got articles from friends saying, 'Hey, were you not aware this Prime Minister in Armenia is at war with Christianity?' And I was reading the articles and I was looking into it, and then I learned from people I trusted, he was not at war with Christianity. So I came on, and having spent a couple of days with him through the two prayer breakfasts and heard his heart and visited with him privately, personally, this is not a man who is at war with Christianity. This is a man who is wanting to do what he is supposed to do in accordance with Christian principles and following biblical principles. And I am so impressed with them. But when you try to do what he's doing, this is the kind of attacks you come under."
US pundit and journalist Tucker Carlson hosted American lawyer Robert Amsterdam and Narek Karapetyan, the nephew of jailed Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, for an interview on his talk show earlier in November. The two discussed with Carlson the Karapetyan case and accused the Armenian government of cracking down on the Armenian Apostolic Church. The government has denied these claims. Robert Amsterdam is Samvel Karapetyan's lawyer.