Turkish Armenians demand right to replace Aram Ateşyan

A group of Turkish Armenians laid a black wreath in front of the Armenian Patriarchate to protest against being denied the right to replace acting Patriarch Aram Ateşyan, who was appointed to the post by the state eight years ago when Archbishop Mesrob II Mutafyan had to withdraw due to illness.

“For exactly eight years, we have not been able to choose our patriarch due for various excuses. They are stalling the process with a made up, unheard of title,” Asbarez cited a writer Jaklin Çelik as saying.   Çelik underlined that the seat of the patriarch was a 550-year-old tradition, representing the 'existence and honor' of a nation whose roots go back some 3000 years.