Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has taken to the offensive, publicly blaming Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, for being complicit with a “criminal-oligarchic clergy.” He argues that this shadowy cabal is behind the “terrorism,” fomenting a coup d’etat against his presidency. Pashinyan himself is experiencing a historic collapse in public approval. They have tanked under 20 percent—a shocking fall from grace considering that he maintained popularity above 80 percent since he came to power in 2018. These tensions between Pashinyan and Karekin II have sparked national—if not global—debates. Armenians are passionately arguing over issues of national unity, church influence, and the future of Armenia’s political landscape.
In 2018, Pashinyan orchestrated the Velvet Revolution. His success allowed for the removal from power of the corrupt and kleptocratic regime, colloquially referred to as the “Karabakh clan.” His leadership during that time period earned him overwhelming public support, but the past week has left the Shepherd administration in a newly critical spotlight. Karekin II has headed the Armenian Apostolic Church since 1999. Indeed, he has been very proactive in responding to Pashinyan’s accusations.
The Accusations and Counterclaims
The hostility between the two leaders turned lethal. Pashinyan had charged Karekin II with fathering an illegitimate child—violating his own oath of celibacy as an Armenian clergy member. This claim led Pashinyan to call for Karekin II to resign from his post.
“If Karekin II tries to denounce this fact, I’ll prove it in all necessary ways.” – Nikol Pashinyan
There Karekin II has decided not to directly respond to those allegations. Rather, he’s blaming Pashinyan for deepening divisions in the Armenian diaspora. He highlighted the Church’s indispensable place in holding the nation together. He cautioned that the anti-clerical campaign started by the federal authorities now extends the greatest threat to our national unity, peace, and statehood.
The dispute soon turned to war with big guns rolled out by both sides, including prominent apostolic and church figures. One priest even declared Pashinyan a “Judas,” showcasing just how much the conflict has pervaded the religious sphere.
Confrontations and Political Implications
Mikael Adjapakhyan is the head of Armenia’s Church. The situation became even worse when Pashinyan directly confronted him, leading to Adjapakhyan supposedly being removed by intelligence officers. This incident immediately sounded the alarm over the escalating conflict between state and church leaders.
Pashinyan has taken to social media, asserting that the headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church at St. Echmiadzin is under the control of an “anti-Christian, immoral, antinational and antistate group” that must be “liberated.” His remarks are illustrative of a rising sentiment among some Armenians, increasingly seeing the Church’s levers of influence over Armenia as contrary to national interests.
Narine Malikyan, an Armenian citizen, remarked on the significance of the Church in Armenian identity: “We lost our statehood so many times, so being part of the Church was equal to being Armenian.” She further stated, “Attacking the Church is like attacking every Armenian,” underscoring how intertwined religion and national identity are perceived to be in Armenia.
Future Outlook for Pashinyan’s Administration
Against overwhelming odds, harsh criticism and unpopularity, Pashinyan’s party could very well pull off a comeback. Many political observers think such a revival is possible before the June 2026 elections. The political phoenix potential here is if the stars align in some magical way for his administration.
As tensions start to boil between Pashinyan and Karekin II, it’s unclear what course Armenia will take. The ruling party’s ability to navigate this crisis will be crucial in determining its standing with voters in upcoming elections.
