On May 16, the Supreme Spiritual Council, convened under the high direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, touching upon the subsequent provocation recorded on the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border on May 15, issued a statement at the Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan in Moscow.

The statement particularly reads as follows: “Being informed about the provocative actions that the Azerbaijani armed forces took on the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border on May 15, we express our concern and strictly condemn what happened.

Azerbaijan’s policy on a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ongoing escalation of the situation and the human losses caused by the escalation are putting the actions for a peaceful settlement of the conflict at a great risk and are leading the process of negotiations launched through the efforts of the international community to failure.

Staying true to the peacekeeping mission, the Armenian Apostolic Church must continue to make every effort for the peaceful settlement of the conflict and for the safety and security of our sons living in Artsakh.”