International lawyer Robert Amsterdam called for the protection of the Armenian Apostolic Church from pressure by the authorities

The international legal community has expressed concern over the situation surrounding the Armenian Apostolic Church. Renowned lawyer Robert Amsterdam has called on the international community to intervene and protect the church’s autonomy from the actions of the Armenian government.

In a statement by Amsterdam & Partners LLP ( ) , it is emphasized that the actions of the official authorities in Yerevan constitute an attempt to politically take over a religious institution. The country’s authorities have begun actively interfering in matters of church governance, justifying this on the grounds of “spiritual security” and the need for a parliamentary investigation into the so-called “systemic crisis” within the religious organization.

Robert Amsterdam noted that these actions are a logical continuation of months of pressure on the clergy, accompanied by the initiation of criminal cases and public demands by PrimeNikol Pashinyan for the resignation of Catholicos Garegin II of All Armenians. “This is not reform, but an attempt at control,” the lawyer emphasized, insisting that the Church’s internal affairs must be governed exclusively by its own traditions.

In conclusion, the expert called on the governments of other countries, religious leaders, and human rights advocates to publicly support the independence of the Armenian Apostolic Church, reminding them that this institution belongs to the faithful, not to representatives of the current political authorities.

As a reminder, it was previously reported that the Armenian government had officially included in its program for 2026–2031 a provision concerning the reform of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) and the removal of Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, from office.