Pashinyan escalates campaign to unseat Armenian Church leader

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has launched a direct campaign against Catholicos Garegin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, accusing him of violating his vow of celibacy and calling for the appointment of a “truly holy” church leader.

The conflict, simmering since Pashinyan’s rise to power in 2018, has intensified as law enforcement is reportedly investigating clerical conduct, signaling a broad offensive against Etchmiadzin, the church’s historic seat.

Following Armenia’s 2020 war defeat, the church aligned with opposition and pro-Russian figures, including former President Robert Kocharyan. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who led protests last year, is preparing a new wave of demonstrations.

As the country heads toward 2026 parliamentary elections, Pashinyan appears determined to neutralize Kremlin influence, which he perceives as flowing through the church. The standoff reflects a deeper struggle over national identity, moral authority, and the geopolitical orientation of Armenia.