The Armenian government plans to remove the Catholicos

Armenian authorities, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have officially enshrined in their five-year state program the goal of replacing the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC). This initiative, approved by the National Assembly on August 25, calls for the removal of Catholicos Garegin II and the holding of elections for a new primate, a move that has sparked sharp protests from the clergy and human rights advocates.

, the official program of the Armenian government, “ ” for 2026–2031, states that reforming the AAC is necessary to restore the “normal functioning” of church bodies, which are allegedly in crisis due to the failure to convene the National Church Assembly for 27 years. Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Melania Harutyunyan emphasized that the state does not seek to appoint the Catholicos personally, but merely wishes to ensure accountability and adherence to canonical principles. Nevertheless, experts point to a clear contradiction between these actions and the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state.

In parallel with the political pressure, criminal proceedings against the Catholicos himself and six bishops are ongoing in the courts. Members of the senior clergy are accused of “failure to comply with a court order” due to their refusal to reinstate a clergyman who had previously been defrocked. Lawyers and human rights advocates, notably Isabella Sargsyan of the Eurasian Partnership Foundation, describe these events as a gross violation of the religious organization’s autonomy, which is guaranteed by both the Armenian Constitution and international human rights standards.

The Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church has categorically rejected the government’s claims, stating that the state has no authority to interfere in the church’s internal affairs or to forcibly change its leadership. At present, the case regarding “failure to comply with a court order” has been remanded by the Court of Cassation to the court of first instance in the Armavir region; however, a new hearing date has not yet been set.