On November 16th the city of Vagharshapat otherwise known as Etchmiadzin will vote for its new mayor, a political contest that is turning the spiritual capital of Armenia and of Armenian identity into another arena for the country’s political struggle in the follow up to the 2026 general election.

At the heart of the conflict lies the fundamental separation between church and state, and the constitutional recognition of the Church’s special role in Armenian identity and life.

For the first time the government has decided that the Khoy Community will have its say in the Vaghashapat mayoral election, a move that has raised concerns of gerrymandering, especially in light of the government’s attempts to destabilise the church, and their candidate,Argishti Meghakyan, being from Khoy.

8 political forces are competing for control over the city – with candidates fielded from the Homeland, Mother Armenia and ruling Civil Contract party.

Whoever wins this election won’t just run a city, they’ll hold power over the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – the cradle of Armenian Christianity. Control here means control over the Church’s environment, its voice, and its reach.

Should the government’s candidate lose, attempts to wrest power over the church may not stop. WE can expect further detainments and imprisonments to come before the 2026 election is decided.

For the people of Etchmiadzin however, this is not about national conspiracies and political ambitions, its not even about city budgets or utilities.
It’s about conscience – about whether Armenia’s holiest ground remains sacred, or is turned into yet another of Pashinyan’s playgrounds.

On November 16,
the citizens of Etchmiadzin will make a choice.
Not just for a mayor- but for the soul of their nation.