"The Siege of Faith," Pashinyan's Government and Organized Pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church

The siege of faith in Armenia and the pressure of the Pashinyan government on the Armenian Apostolic Church have raised alarm bells for religious freedom.

Human rights activists and Christian organizations have warned of increasing government pressure on the leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which they say has reached a worrying level and directly threatens the church’s historic independence. The warnings come as half of the church’s patriarchs are in detention and concerns are growing about the authoritarian approaches of the government of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the oldest Christian institutions in the world and a pillar of Armenian national identity, entered a tense period in its relations with the government after the country's defeat in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. The end of the war not only resulted in the loss of disputed territories, but also the displacement of more than 120,000 Armenians from areas under Azerbaijani control, an event that sparked public anger and widespread protests against the Pashinyan government.

In the wake of the crisis, the Armenian government has, critics say, pursued a path of repression rather than national dialogue. Numerous reports indicate that citizens are being fined for posting critical content on social media, and political and civil disobedient people are facing threats, summonses, and arrests, a trend that activists see as a clear sign of the government's slide toward authoritarianism.

Meanwhile, the church has not been spared the wrath of the authorities. Earlier this year, Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahian was arrested on charges of attempting to overthrow the government through undemocratic means. Armenian prosecutors have cited statements he made in which he allegedly called for a coup, a charge that church supporters describe as politically motivated and an attempt to intimidate religious leaders.

The World Christian Solidarity Organization has warned that the government is seeking to take direct control of the Armenian Apostolic Church by proposing to replace Catholicos Gargin II, the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with a state committee. Such a move, observers believe, is a clear violation of the principle of separation of church and state and an unprecedented interference in religious affairs.

Pashinyan has not denied the accusations, instead claiming that his goal is to save the church from “anti-Christian” and “anti-state” groups that he says have taken over it. He has also explicitly called for Gargin II’s removal, a stance that has heightened tensions.

Although Gargin II has not yet been arrested, human rights activists believe that he is under intense and increasing political pressure, pressure that could be a prelude to more stringent measures against the country's highest religious authority.

The impact of these clashes has extended beyond the church. Samuel Karapetyan, a prominent businessman and a prominent supporter of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has been imprisoned for criticizing Pashinyan’s performance, and the government has also imposed additional economic pressure by nationalizing Armenia’s electricity grid (one of his largest assets).

Critics believe that Pashinyan's government, facing deep public anger and a crisis of legitimacy, is trying to consolidate its power by silencing critics, fining citizens, and targeting the Armenian Apostolic Church (the country's most respected and trusted institution).

From a Christian perspective, what is happening in Armenia today is not simply a political conflict, but a serious test of religious freedom and the place of the church in a society where the Christian faith has been an integral part of its historical identity. The weakening of the church is the weakening of the voice of conscience and truth in society; a warning that should not be limited to Armenia alone, but should call the global Christian community to awakening and solidarity.