As parliamentary elections approached, tensions escalated between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Arshaluys Barseghyan reported on this ongoing conflict. Historically, the Armenian Apostolic Church, a cornerstone of national identity dating back to 301 when Armenia adopted Christianity, maintained close ties with previous Armenian leaders.
However, under Nikol Pashinyan, relations shifted, making Church-state matters a central focus of public debate. In May 2025, criticism of the Church’s management of churches, described as “storage rooms,” fueled accusations against Catholicos Karekin II, prompting Pashinyan’s efforts to remove him from his position. Pashinyan formally articulated this goal in January 2026 through a Church reform agenda signed by him and 10 senior clergy members.
This agenda established a Coordinating Council to oversee the reforms. Notably, Pashinyan signed the document as prime minister, rather than as a church follower, raising constitutional concerns. As Armenia moved toward the 2026 elections, Pashinyan intensified criticism of the Church, alleging “hybrid threats” (likely referring to Russia) and Karekin II’s alleged foreign connections.
Pashinyan justified his actions by claiming Catholicos Karekin II violated his vow of celibacy and had a daughter, rendering him ineligible. More seriously, he accused Karekin II of ties to “foreign intelligence services,” specifically Russian, posing a security risk. Critics questioned why these concerns weren’t addressed earlier.
Pashinyan insisted he sought a Church leader free of foreign influence. The government’s actions, including detaining high-ranking priests and imposing travel bans on Karekin II, were described as repressive. Four priests were detained, with two placed under house arrest, and others faced charges, including allegations of past misconduct.
Pashinyan argued the Church was acting as a “foreign state within the state,” and that actions like Karekin II’s calls for Pashinyan’s resignation and Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan’s protests couldn’t be ignored. The investigation into Catholicos karekin II continues.
Topics: #pashinyan #catholicos #karekin
The Armenian government, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has been actively attempting to undermine Catholicos Karekin II. This increased friction occurred as upcoming parliamentary elections he
The Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has been actively attempting to undermine Catholicos Karekin II amid rising tensions leading up to parliamentary elections. This conflict, detailed by Ars