PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has claimed that the European Union is preparing discrediting materials against the Diocese of Yerevan and Armenia of the Russian Orthodox Church.

According to a statement cited by RIA Novosti, the agency says it has obtained information indicating that "European partners" are compiling materials about representatives of the diocese in an effort to encourage Armenian authorities to launch large-scale actions against it.

The SVR also alleged that the EU exerted strong pressure on Father Timofey Kazaryan, the priest serving at the Chapel-Church of Saint Michael the Archangel located at Russia's 102nd military base in Gyumri.

According to the statement, the NGOs Union of Informed Citizens and Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office, which the SVR described as being supported by Brussels, accused the priest of attempting to interfere in Armenia's parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7.

"Brussels-backed organizations accused the modest priest of nothing less than interference in Armenia's parliamentary elections," the statement said.

The Russian intelligence agency further claimed that the EU intends to push the Russian Orthodox Church out of Armenia.

"One of the mandatory conditions of European integration being presented to the Armenian authorities is the complete severing of centuries-old religious and spiritual ties with Moscow," the statement said.

According to the SVR, these efforts are being coordinated through the EU Partnership Mission established in Armenia in April. The agency alleges that the goal is to deprive the Russian Orthodox Diocese of the right to use church property and to hinder its dialogue with local religious institutions, including the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Source: PanArmenian.Net