Armenia is witnessing a severe political crisis as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan engages in a bitter conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church. The discord has resulted in numerous arrests, accusations of a coup attempt, and an unusual offer from Pashinyan himself to expose his private parts to the church leadership to affirm his Christian faith.
Pashinyan’s provocative gesture came after a priest accused him on social media of being circumcised and equated him to Judas, suggesting he was not a true Christian. This confrontation unfolded against the backdrop of the prime minister's upcoming elections and amidst rising discontent from the Church, which has become critical of his government following Armenia's defeat by Azerbaijan in 2020.
Previously, the Prime Minister had accused the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Karekin II, of breaking his celibacy vow and fathering a child - an allegation Karekin II has not directly addressed. As tensions rose, government media circulated claims about Karekin II’s alleged offspring, while Pashinyan sought to coordinate efforts to elect a new church leader, prompting accusations of violating the principle of church-state separation.
The situation escalated further when Armenian security forces arrested sixteen individuals, including a senior cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, amid accusations of plotting terrorism to seize power. Galstanyan, who led previous anti-government protests, now faces serious charges that his defenders claim are purely politically motivated.
As tensions mount, Pashinyan accused several prominent political figures and a wealthy businessman, Samvel Karapetyan, of being involved in a coup conspiracy. Karapetyan, a major benefactor of the Church, was arrested after expressing support for church officials and has been accused of inciting violence. In response to the crisis, the Armenian government is contemplating nationalizing Karapetyan's energy company, a move that has escalated the political stakes.
As the situation develops, many Armenians are closely watching for signs of further unrest, fearing a repeat of past conflicts, while the former leaders and church representatives prepare their responses amidst growing international vigilance over these political disturbances.
