Armenia's Political Turmoil: Pashinyan's Controversial Church Row Deepens

Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is engulfed in a bitter feud with the Armenian Apostolic Church, resulting in unusual proclamations and mass arrests. As the political landscape shifts ahead of next year's elections, accusations and confrontations highlight the nation's division.

In a surprising twist to Armenia's ongoing political crisis, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has found himself entangled in an escalating conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church that has culminated in extraordinary claims and significant unrest among the populace. Facing pivotal elections next year, Pashinyan is grappling with an emboldened opposition that has rallied behind the Church following Armenia's defeat in the 2020 conflict with Azerbaijan.

This week took a bizarre turn when Pashinyan publicly suggested he would expose himself to the head of the Armenian Church to prove his Christian identity amid allegations from a local priest challenging his circumcision status. His statement, made on Facebook to his 1.1 million followers, was a response to comments made during a sermon by Father Zareh Ashuryan, who equated Pashinyan's status to that of Judas Iscariot, labeling him a false believer.

The acrimonious rivalry truly sparked when Pashinyan accused Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Orthodox Church, of violating his celibacy vow and fathering a child—claims that the Church has largely remained silent on. This standoff has seen government-affiliated media disseminating compromising photos while Pashinyan has been proactive in pushing for Karekin's removal from leadership.

Tensions reached a boiling point on Wednesday, when authorities executed mass arrests targeting 16 individuals, including prominent clergy members and political opponents who face allegations of plotting to seize control of the government. The crackdown has drawn accusations of government overreach, with critics claiming these actions are an attempt to stifle dissent.

Further fueling the disturbances, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, a major benefactor of the Church, was apprehended after threatening political intervention in support of the religious establishment. Pashinyan responded by initiating nationalization efforts of Karapetyan's business interests, heightening frictions further amid rising tensions with Moscow.

As the prime minister navigates these perilous political waters, he has labeled the situation a “failed revolution of crooks,” attempting to frame the conflict as a matter of principal governance against betrayal. Meanwhile, Karekin called for unity among Armenians, but the church-state rift threatens to deepen, raising fears of future unrest as the nation progresses towards critical elections.