Pashinyan apologizes for church remarks, but stands by political stance

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan apologized for using harsh language toward the clergy but reaffirmed his commitment to political and moral principles he had previously voiced.

The Anti-Corruption Commission ruled that Pashinyan’s May 30 Facebook post — a response to criticism from Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan — violated standards of conduct due to its crude tone. Pashinyan issued a partial apology for two expressions but stressed his position remained firm.

He reiterated his call for “spiritual renewal” and emphasized the importance of respecting democratic institutions. The prime minister also accused Catholicos Garegin II of violating celibacy and proposed setting up a coordination team to prepare for the election of a new Catholicos.

In June, 15 members of the “Sacred Struggle” movement, including Galstanyan, were arrested, and a separate criminal case was launched against Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan over calls to seize power.