By PanARMENIAN
Armenia’s National Assembly has approved legislative changes prohibiting the free transfer of state- and community-owned land to the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Under the amendments to the Land Code, such land plots can no longer be granted free of charge to the Church for the construction and maintenance of churches and related structures.
The draft law, submitted by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, was adopted in full with 67 votes in favor, 26 against, and 3 abstentions, according to Factor.am .
During the discussions, Vahe Ghalumyan, head of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture, and Environmental Protection, stated that the changes are not aimed against the Church but are intended to regulate land relations.
According to the government, the initiative is driven by a policy of ensuring the targeted and efficient use of state and community property, and the amendments should be viewed in that context.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, along with bishops and archbishops calling for the resignation of the Catholicos, issued a statement urging support for reforms within the Armenian Apostolic Church. Pashinyan read the statement during a Facebook live broadcast, after which participating bishops and archbishops signed it. He also announced the formation of a coordinating council tasked with organizing reforms within the Church, with membership decisions to be made unanimously.
—
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Antranik Varosian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2026/03/26/armenia-ends-free-land-grants-to-apostolic-church/