Garo Paylan, who has been studying destroyed Armenian churches in Van, addressed the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism.

According to Turkey's Sondaggi, Garo Paylan visited the Varaghavank, Zoradir St. Echmiadzin, and St. Bardokhemeos monasteries in Van and studied them on site.

Seeing that the monasteries were destroyed and on the verge of destruction, Garo Paylan turned to the Minister of Tourism and Culture with the words, "What benefit do you want to gain from the destruction of this monastery? Turkey will neither gain nor lose from the destruction of this monastery. Have you thought about that?"