Key facts
- Catholicos Karekin II, head of Armenia's Apostolic Church, and six other clerics will stand trial.
- The defendants are accused of failing to comply with a court order to reinstate a defrocked bishop.
- The case represents a significant legal challenge to the church's leadership.
- Critics allege the prosecution is politically motivated and targets government opponents.
- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously accused the church of acting as a proxy for foreign powers.
The head of Armenia's Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, and six other senior clerics are set to go on trial Friday, marking an escalation in the confrontation between the church and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government. The defendants face up to two years in prison if convicted of failing to comply with a civil court order that temporarily reinstated a bishop previously defrocked by the Church.
The case is the most significant legal challenge to the Apostolic Church, a powerful institution in Armenia, and comes amid growing tensions between church and state. These tensions are linked to Pashinyan's leadership and his handling of peace talks with Azerbaijan, as he seeks to steer Armenia closer to the West and away from Russia's influence.
Opposition politicians, church leaders, and civil society groups have voiced concerns that the prosecution is politically motivated and part of a broader crackdown on government critics. Anna Melikyan, a lawyer with Protection of Rights Without Borders, stated the case violates the constitutional independence of the Church and represents executive interference in church affairs, raising concerns about judicial independence in Armenia.
Pashinyan has publicly called for Karekin's resignation and accused the Church of acting as a proxy for foreign powers, allegations the Church denies. The Apostolic Church, with millions of followers globally, has seen several clergymen arrested in recent years, with officials claiming these arrests are politically motivated.
The trial originates from the case of Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, who was defrocked after publicly calling for Karekin's resignation and aligning himself with Pashinyan. Previously, cleric Bagrat Galstanyan led street protests against Pashinyan over territorial concessions to Azerbaijan and is currently under house arrest. The Catholicos himself has also echoed calls for the prime minister to step down.
Tigran Grigoryan, director of the Regional Centre for Democracy and Security, noted that Pashinyan views the Church as a political threat that could support opposition parties. He added that the case against the clerics aligns with a pattern of selective justice by Pashinyan's government, which has also seen leading opposition figures detained and assets seized. One archbishop received a two-year prison sentence for calling for regime change, and other priests are awaiting trial on similar charges.