New claim in Pashinyan-Echmiadzin debate: "He has a child"

The tension between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in Armenia has reached a new level with Pashinyan's child allegations against the Catholicos. The "illegal policy" warning from the religious center in Echmiadzin deepens the church-state conflict.

THE CLAIM OF HAVING A CHILD IS RISING THE TENSION

Pashinyan claimed in his last cabinet meeting that Karekin II had fathered a child by breaking his vow of chastity. In justifying this claim, the Armenian Prime Minister stated that he saw threats to both his "spiritual security" and "national security" and used the words, "He cannot remain as Catholicos in such a situation." This statement added a new link to the ongoing tension between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Pashinyan government.

BACKGROUND OF THE TENSION: DEFEAT IN KARABAKH AND CALLS FOR RESIGNATION

The roots of the church-Pashinyan tensions date back to the defeat in the Second Karabakh War in 2020. Following the defeat, Echmiadzin supported demonstrations demanding Pashinyan’s resignation. When Catholicos Karekin II called for his resignation once again in April 2023, Pashinyan responded by saying, “If the church wants to engage in politics, Armenia is a democratic country.” The government’s demands for intervention in the election of church leaders are also among the factors fueling the tension.

HARSH REACTION FROM THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL COUNCIL: "INSULT AND CAMPAIGN"

The Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church responded harshly to Pashinyan’s allegations at its extraordinary meeting on June 2. The official statement emphasized that the Prime Minister “sees himself above the law and has launched a campaign against the church with insults and accusations that are unbecoming of a statesman.” The council stated that church affairs are outside of state authority and called on the authorities to stop Pashinyan’s “illegal and narrow-minded policy.” The statement said, “This anti-church stance is politically motivated and an attempt to weaken our authority.”

CRITICISM FROM THE OPPOSITION AND RIGHTS DEFENDERS

Pashinyan's language and intervention in the church were criticized not only by Echmiadzin, but also by the Armenian opposition and human rights groups. The criticism is that such direct state interference in church affairs in secular Armenia is against democratic principles and religious autonomy. Pashinyan's social media posts and his description of churches as "warehouses" are other points that have drawn criticism.

Odatv.com