Armenian MPs urged to shun campaign

THE Armenian Apostolic Church has urged MPs not to support a government-led “illegal campaign” against it, after a parliamentary commission was set up to investigate its “internal crisis”.

“It is deeply concerning that the National Assembly is also turning into a platform for lawlessness, its high rostrum being used to sow anti-Church sentiments with baseless accusations and insults,” the Church said in a statement.

“We call on the parliamentary majority to demonstrate sobriety and responsibility, to act exclusively within the framework of constitutional powers. . . Attempts to establish political control over the Church’s internal life or usurp powers from its canonical bodies are in no way justified.”

The statement was issued as the parliamentary speaker, Ruben Rubinyan, announced the new commission, composed exclusively of MPs from Armenia’s governing Civic Contract Party, after an opposition boycott.

The Church said that it was considering further “domestic and international legal measures” against an “illegal campaign” by the liberal government led by the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, to “obstruct” its activities, which has brought expressions of concern from the World Council of Churches and international rights groups.

Leaders of the Church, which dates back to the early fourth century, have accused the government of failing to protect Armenian rights under a 2025 US-brokered peace deal with Azerbaijan over the war-torn enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where an Armenian Apostolic cathedral was demolished in April.

Mr Pashinyan’s government, which seeks accession to the European Union, and claimed a landslide victory in June elections, has retaliated by increasing church taxes and backing dissident bishops demanding the resignation of Catholicos Karekin II, who is currently on trial with six other archbishops on charges of contempt of court (News, 14 August).

In its latest statement, the Church said that its “leadership, internal governance, and canonical life” were not “subject to parliamentary control”, and urged Christian MPs to “refrain from abusing their position of power”.

“The internal and external challenges facing our homeland oblige all of us to be united, united and steadfast”, the statement said.

“This process, initially based on falsehoods, slander and delusions, will inevitably have a negative impact on national life, creating new divisions and giving rise to hostility and intolerance in society.”

In a TV interview in Iran last week, the former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, said that Armenia risked being “transformed into a new Ukraine” if it continued its pro-Western direction.