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17:24, 1 June 2025

Pashinyan's statements about AAHC result in demand for apologies

The insults to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church (AAHC) and interference into its activities by the Prime Minister of Armenia are unacceptable, politicians and churchmen have stated, demanding an apology. The "Ayakve" Initiative has demanded that a criminal case be opened against Nikol Pashinyan.

At a government meeting on May 29, Nikol Pashinyan, Armenian Premier, said that all the churches in the republic are "closet-like", explaining that all the most unnecessary things are stored in churches, and was surprised at "how much one can be false, talk about the holy and be an atheist, trample on the holy places", the "News of Armenia" Agency has reported.

Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, commenting on Pashinyan's words, has called it regrettable that a person holding such a high position, speaking about such a delicate issue, cannot help but demonstrate a deficit of the "declared fashionable" education. The Archbishop has recalled that since early 2019, the church has repeatedly appealed to government agencies regarding the preservation of the shrines that have the status of monuments, and emphasized the need for a joint discussion of the existing issues, which, unfortunately, "still remains unanswered by both the state authorized body and the government itself.

However, the very next day, Pashinyan responded to Archbishop’s words with insults on the Facebook*, including those related to sexual life, says the post dated May 30.

The Republic of Armenia must have a decisive vote in the matter of electing the Catholicos of all Armenians, Nikol Pashinyan has also written, adding that “all the candidates for the post of Catholicos must undergo an integrity and honesty check. This issue must be resolved once and for all.”

The above statements by the Armenian Premier were condemned both by churchmen and politicians.

The Administration of the AAHC Church Diocese of Austria has stated that such behaviour is reprehensible and unacceptable not only for every Christian, but also deeply contradicts the position of a state leader, the restraint and responsibility worthy of him.

"We call on the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia to publicly repent of his words and apologize to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and our believers," the “News.Am” has reported.

The "Ayakve" Initiative has filed a criminal complaint with the country’s General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) based on Nikol Pashinyan's statements addressed to the AAHC.

"Article 17 of the Constitution of Armenia guarantees the free activities of all religious organizations in the territory of Armenia; and this freedom is ensured by the state. The state has no right to interfere in any way in the internal affairs of religious organizations. Besides, point 18 of the Constitution gives the AAHC an exclusive status as the pillar of our identity, while Article 6 thereof stipulates that state bodies, local government bodies and officials have no right to perform actions that do not arise from their powers. If such actions are performed, this is equated to the overthrow of the constitutional order," the “Aysor.Am” has quoted Avetik Chalabyan, an activist of the above Initiative.

What is happening looks more like a manoeuvre aimed to distract the public from real challenges, existential threats and problems, the solution of which the Armenian government should be concerned about, the Union of Russian Armenians stated in its Facebook* page on May 30. "The obscene language publicly and shamelessly used by Pashinyan towards the AAHC devalues, first of all, the very institution of the country's prime minister," says the statement.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 31, 2025 at 11:49 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.

Author: Caucasian Knot

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