Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan compared Armenian Church priests to Islamists and accused them of interfering in politics

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made harsh accusations against the Armenian Apostolic Church, comparing the clerics who criticize the government to radical Islamists. He also spoke about possible shadow financing of political processes through church structures and insisted on the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, motivated by issues of security and sovereignty of the country.

According to the Institute of Religion and Politics, the Armenian Prime Minister expressed “serious concern” about the activities of the AAC. “We have information, which is certainly being verified, that shadow finances are being introduced into Armenia in the format of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church to be used for political purposes,” he said.

Pashinyan emphasized that “the Church should not position itself either as a state within a state or as a foreign state within a state.” In his opinion, church institutions should not participate in the internal political life of the country. The Prime Minister also drew attention to the nature of sermons sounded in the churches of Armenia.

“Since 2020, almost all churches in Armenia have been sounding political, radical texts, ” Pashinyan noted, adding that such manifestations remind him of “manifestations of radical Islam, against which the international community has to fight.” This comparison has caused a wide resonance.

The Armenian Prime Minister also reiterated his unwavering stance on the demand for the abdication of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. He stated that he would not give up this demand, as, according to him, “it is about the security and sovereignty of our country.” The conflict between the secular authorities and the Armenian Apostolic Church is escalating against the backdrop of these statements.

To remind, it was previously reported that the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) confirmed its decision to hold the Council of Bishops in the Austrian city of St. Pölten from February 16 to 19, 2026, despite serious obstacles, including the current court ban on leaving the country for six of its participants. This situation arose against the backdrop of ongoing criminal proceedings related to the former head of the Diocese of Masiatsotn, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan.