In Armenia, tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church have reached a boiling point, characterized by mass arrests, accusations of a coup, and a highly unusual offer from Pashinyan to prove his Christian identity. The situation has gained traction on social media, with Pashinyan, who commands a follower base of 1.1 million on Facebook, stating that he is prepared to expose himself to the Church's leaders to disprove allegations regarding his circumcision.
Pashinyan’s remarks come in response to criticism from a priest in Masis who accused him of being circumcised, indirectly comparing the Prime Minister to Judas Iscariot and insinuating a lack of faith. Such contentious dynamics unexpectedly appeared amid increasing scrutiny of Pashinyan's government, particularly in the wake of Armenia's defeat in its conflict with Azerbaijan in 2020. The Church has become a vocal opponent to Pashinyan, with Pashinyan indicating that he seeks to oust the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, over personal accusations of breaking celibacy vows.
As the crisis deepened, security forces arrested 16 individuals, including high-ranking cleric Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, in connection with a supposed plot to seize power. Allegations against the detainees included attempts to form terrorist groups aimed at instigating violent upheaval. Detractors of the government have labeled the detentions as a maneuver to repress political dissent, particularly targeting the Church's influence and opposition movements.
The situation further escalated with the involvement of Samvel Karapetyan, a billionaire and prominent benefactor of the Church, who was arrested after making public declarations of support for the Church. Following his arrest, Pashinyan revealed intentions to nationalize Karapetyan's energy company, intensifying concerns about the government’s increasing control over significant economic assets.
In response to these developments, both local and international observers are closely monitoring the repercussions of these political machinations, fearing that prolonged conflict could further fracture Armenia's already delicate political landscape. Comments from Russian officials regarding Karapetyan's arrest signal potential diplomatic tensions, suggesting a complex web of interests and influence affecting Armenia's governance as it approaches critical elections.
