Armenian Church Leader Appears in Court as Clergy-Government Rift Deepens

The head of Armenia's Apostolic Church appeared in court on Friday, marking the latest escalation in a bitter standoff between the influential religious institution and the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Catholicos Karekin II, along with six other senior clergymen, is accused of refusing to comply with a court order to reinstate a bishop who was defrocked by the church in January. The bishop, Gevorg Saroyan, had previously called for Karekin's ouster and was stripped of his rank over allegations of abuse of power. After a court sided with Saroyan and mandated his reinstatement, the church's refusal prompted the Prosecutor General's office to file charges in February, also imposing travel bans on the clerics. If convicted, they could face up to two years in prison.

The first hearing took place in Vagharshapat, also known as Etchmiadzin, the spiritual capital located about 18 kilometers west of Yerevan. Shortly after the session began, the presiding judge recused himself, a move welcomed by Karekin's lawyer, Ara Zograbyan, who said the judge had refused to be part of a "shameful proceeding." A new judge will now be assigned to the case.

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the courthouse, including opposition party members, clergy, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Samvel Karapetyan, head of the pro-Russian Strong Armenia party, called the case a "national disgrace," expressing disappointment that authorities had not halted their actions against the church.

Relations between the government and the church have deteriorated sharply since 2024, when mass protests led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan demanded Pashinyan's resignation. The demonstrations were fueled by anger over Armenia's agreement to cede control of several border villages to Azerbaijan as part of efforts to normalize ties after decades of territorial disputes. Many clergy opposed the handover and have been critical of Pashinyan, who rose to power during the 2018 pro-democracy protests.

The government's crackdown has extended to other senior clerics. Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan was convicted last year on charges of calling for the overthrow of the government, though an appellate court later overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. Galstanyan, who led the 2024 protests, remains under house arrest, facing charges of attempting a coup, fomenting unrest, and preparing a terrorist attack.

Speaking during an evening service at Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Karekin denounced the proceedings, saying the authorities are seeking to undermine the church's authority, restrict its autonomy, and subjugate it to their will. He asserted that the institution's independence is central to Armenia's prosperity. Archbishop Natan Hovhannisyan, another defendant, insisted the church cannot be "nationalized, expropriated and have a manager appointed."