The tension between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church has intensified, marked by mass arrests and serious accusations of a coup. In a remarkable gesture, Pashinyan suggested he would expose himself to Church officials to dispel claims regarding his circumcision and affirm his Christian identity.
Pashinyan, who boasts 1.1 million followers on Facebook, has utilized social media as his primary communication platform since the Velvet Revolution of 2018. As Armenia prepares for significant elections next year, the Church has emerged as a vocal critic of his leadership, particularly following Armenia’s defeat in a conflict with Azerbaijan in 2020.
The discord began in May when Pashinyan accused Catholicos Karekin II of breaching his celibacy vow and demanded his resignation. In a fiery response, the Church voiced concerns over national unity but remained silent on the personal accusations.
Compounding the crisis, 16 individuals, including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, were detained under allegations of plotting terrorism and attempting to seize power. The government claims to have uncovered a plot involving the Church and various political figures.
This escalating standoff, punctuated by arrests and allegations, has raised fears of political repression, with opponents labeling it an orchestrated effort to quash dissent.
Source: www.bbc.com
