Less than a year before crucial parliamentary elections, political tensions in Armenia continue to rise. For over a month, an acrimonious war of words has been waged online between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the country’s spiritual leader, Catholicos Karekin II (also known as Ktrij Nersessyan). Pashinyan accuses Karekin II of interfering in the country’s politics and fathering at least one illegitimate child despite a sacred vow of celibacy. Such claims, including others of corruption and autocratic rule, predate Pashinyan’s premiership and have shadowed the spiritual leader since his inauguration as Catholicos in October 1999.
In large part, the Catholicos and the Armenian Apostolic Church had remained aloof from politics especially prior to Pashinyan rising to power in 2018. That status quo, however, has changed dramatically. As Karekin II and the church have become more active in Armenian politics, they have capitalized on a dissatisfied populace to put pressure on Pashinyan in the run-up to the June 2026 elections. In response, the Armenian premier has sought to remove Karekin II as the current Catholicos, fomenting further instability throughout the country.
[…]
At the end of June, the situation escalated further when Archbishop Galstanyan and a dozen others were arrested on suspicion of planning a coup against Pashinyan’s government. Samvel Karapetyan, an Armenian-born billionaire and Russian citizen, spoke out in support of the Catholicos, stating that he would also work toward ousting Pashinyan. Soon after, he, too, was detained and charged with planning to violently usurp power. Unlike Galstanyan, however, the charges against Karapetyan were accompanied by little proof.
[…]
The conduct of next year’s elections will stand as an important barometer of Armenia’s democratic credentials. European leaders are anxiously watching the turmoil unfold in the country. Yet, even during her visit to Armenia at the end of June, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, did not comment on the country’s political developments at all, instead focusing solely on a new partnership agenda. French President Emmanuel Macron was more blunt, openly supporting the Pashinyan government in light of the alleged coup attempt. Meanwhile, Armenian Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetyan has already requested that parliament move forward with the prosecution of a Kocharyan-aligned member of parliament on coup charges. Another two have already had their immunity removed, albeit on other charges.
The full piece is available here.
