The Catholicos of Armenians discussed the government's persecution of AAC clergy with lawyer Robert Amsterdam

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II received Robert Amsterdam, a well-known American-Canadian international lawyer specializing in political defense and human rights, in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. As ArmInfo reports, during the meeting they discussed legal processes concerning the detained clergymen and Russian businessman of Armenian origin, head of Tashir group of companies Samvel Karapetyan, as well as issues of human rights protection.

During the conversation, Catholicos Karekin II and Robert Amsterdam emphasized the special importance of the observance of justice and legality in all legal procedures. The meeting took place against the background of an active anti-Church policy, which, according to the source, the Armenian authorities have launched since May 2025, seeking the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, who is elected for life.

Within the framework of this campaign, not only representatives of the clergy, but also citizens who openly support the Armenian Apostolic Church are being persecuted. It is noted that to date, four high-ranking members of the clergy are in prison on reportedly far-fetched charges.

The case of businessman Samvel Karapetyan has also caused a wide resonance. He was detained on June 18, 2025 for supporting the Armenian Apostolic Church. However, by the decision of the Criminal Court of Appeal of January 17, the preventive measure against Karapetyan was changed from detention to house arrest. Sources point out that the businessman’s arrest was preceded by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s threatening posts against him, which the lawyers regard as an attempt to directly interfere in the investigation and law enforcement activities.

Earlier, international lawyer Robert Amsterdam, who defends the interests of the Armenian Apostolic Church, noted that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan openly admits that he is seizing the Church because its representatives do not blindly support his government.