On December 19, Serzh Sargsyan, the third President of Armenia, spoke to journalists outside the Anti-Corruption Court regarding several recent political and church-related developments. Answering a question about whether he knew, as head of the National Security Service or as President, that Archbishop Yezras, brother of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, was a KGB agent, Sargsyan stated, "I have never inquired into such matters, about who cooperates with the National Security Service, much less who interacted with the KGB or other Soviet intelligence agencies, because I don't see the point".

"Okay, let's assume that someone collaborated with the Soviet intelligence agencies, but do those who consider this an extremely negative phenomenon know in what direction this was carried out? If this cooperation was in a specific intelligence field, did it benefit or harm the country in question—the USSR, of which the Republic of Armenia was a part? Therefore, I believe that before publishing such information, the public needs to be informed of many nuances. If this isn't the case, then some other, less legitimate goal is being pursued," Sargsyan added.

When asked whether the goal was to put pressure on the Catholicos of All Armenians, Sargsyan replied, "We're talking about the brother of the Catholicos of All Armenians. So, is a person responsible for his brother? And where are we heading? I simply don't understand". 

He further emphasized confidence in the public's ability to defend the church. Regarding trials launched under the guise of combating "hybrid agents" and associated propaganda, Sargsyan stated, "What should we do now? Should we suggest to the current rulers that they stop this anti-church propaganda? Let them do their job if it's in their interests, and the public will do theirs".

On gasoline imports from Azerbaijan, Sargsyan remarked, "I have repeatedly advised, and I advise you again, not to take statements from authorities and governors so seriously. Remember the story with the 10 million trees? For 44 days they said we were winning, and so on. I can give you 10, 15, 20, 30 such examples". On economic diversification, he commented, "Diversification is a slightly different understanding. Let them try, let them try, we'll see".

Sargsyan further noted the visible support of European structures for the current Armenian administration. Regarding a possible repeat of the Moldovan scenario, he said, "I don't think that events that happened in one country can be repeated in the same way in another. I don't know exactly what happened in Moldova to say whether the Moldovan scenario will be repeated here or not".