Charges Against the Catholicos: Authorities Are Crossing Red Lines
In February 2026, an unprecedented event in the modern history of Armenia took place. The Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia initiated a criminal case against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on charges of obstructing the enforcement of a judicial decision related to former clergyman Arman Saroyan.
The news was first reported by lawyer Ara Zohrabyan and later confirmed by official sources.
As part of the criminal proceedings against the Catholicos, a travel restriction was imposed as a preventive measure. According to supporters of the Church, this decision pursues an obvious political objective — to prevent the Catholicos from participating in the upcoming Austrian Bishops’ Conference. Such a restriction on the spiritual leader’s freedom of movement at the international level is viewed as direct interference in Church affairs and a violation of both the Church’s autonomy and the normal functioning of the state.
Tensions between Armenia’s secular authorities and the supreme spiritual leadership have been escalating for several months. The authorities, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have consistently insisted on the Catholicos’s resignation, accusing him of “usurping spiritual authority.” The prime minister has repeatedly referred to the Catholicos as illegitimate, citing an alleged violation of the vow of celibacy and demanding reforms in church governance.
At the same time, other representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church have also faced charges. Ten clergymen, including bishops and archbishops, have been subjected to travel bans and are unable to attend international church conferences due to the ongoing investigation.
In the context of the criminal case against the Catholicos, Pashinyan stated openly:
“I will not allow the Catholicos to leave Armenia.”
“I will not allow the Catholicos to leave with the Etchmiadzin relics. If necessary, appropriate measures will be taken.”
These statements reveal what appears to be Pashinyan’s main concern: that if the Catholicos moves the Holy See abroad, he would fall outside the prime minister’s sphere of control, limiting the government’s ability to influence spiritual affairs. Pashinyan further stated:
“Attempts to implement that plan will not succeed. Some speak about it openly. I warned them against taking any action. The warnings were ignored, and the consequences will follow.”
Such concerns have led to what critics describe as a campaign of pressure against the spiritual hierarchy. According to this view, Pashinyan is using state institutions to pursue this objective. Each new step is seen as further interference in the Church’s autonomy, accompanied by threats and restrictions on the clergy’s freedom of movement.
It can be argued that Nikol Pashinyan has crossed all red lines. His actions, can no longer be described as policy but rather as an impulsive gamble with the fate of the country and its spiritual institutions. He is like a gambler who cannot stop, constantly raising the stakes and ultimately facing inevitable loss. The gravest danger for the Armenian people in such a scenario, according to this perspective, is that Armenia’s statehood itself could be jeopardized.
Today, Armenia stands on the brink of a crisis driven by what opponents describe as the prime minister’s reckless and obsessive determination to maintain control over the Church. Efforts to subordinate the Church, restrict clergy freedoms, and interfere in its internal affairs are viewed not as reform, but as political recklessness that will eventually undermine Nikol Pashinyan himself. Like any gambler, he will ultimately lose — and will be held accountable for his actions against the people and the state.
