The European Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FOREF Europe) has condemned the actions of Pashinyan’s government toward the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), describing them as a serious threat to freedom of religion and belief in the world’s first Christian country. According to human rights advocates, the public demand for the removal of Catholicos Karekin II constitutes unprecedented state interference in the autonomy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, resembling Soviet-era practices that aimed to subordinate religious institutions to the state. FOREF Europe warns that the conflict could undermine Armenia’s national identity, cultural heritage, and internal stability amid ongoing regional tensions.
“We are witnessing unlawful actions directed against freedom of religion and the Constitution of Armenia… Practices, especially those targeting the Armenian Apostolic Church, are unacceptable from legal, political, and ethical standpoints,” said FOREF Europe President Jan Figel, stressing that “this harms not only the Church, but the entire country and the whole nation.”
The statement notes that over the past week, the Armenian government led by Nikol Pashinyan has significantly intensified pressure on the Church, raising concerns about possible violations of the country’s international human rights obligations. FOREF Europe recalled that in January, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan issued an order terminating the activities of the Spiritual Service of the Armed Forces of Armenia as of February 1. This decision eliminated the military chaplaincy program which was established in 1997 at the initiative of the late Catholicos Garegin I and statesman Vazgen Sargsyan. Under this program, dozens of clergymen served in military units, providing spiritual support to servicemen since its founding.
According to the forum, military chaplains refused to submit to pressure from the authorities and to support the government-promoted agenda of “church reforms” directed against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, after which the service was unilaterally shut down. Representatives of the opposition and the Church view this as a threat to the country’s spiritual security and national tradition. The Armenian Apostolic Church chapel at a military unit in the Kanaker district is currently closed to servicemen.
In addition, the Armenian authorities imposed travel bans on two archbishops and three bishops, preventing them from participating in the Bishops’ Assembly of the World Armenian Church scheduled for February 16–19 in Austria. Preceding these measures are summonses of members of the Supreme Spiritual Council to the Investigative Committee on charges of “obstructing the execution of a court decision,” which FOREF Europe regards as politically motivated state interference in church governance.
FOREF Europe emphasizes that these developments fit into a broader pattern of persecution ongoing since mid-2025. According to the organization, four bishops, and by some accounts up to half of the archbishops, remain under arrest or in detention on charges that critics describe as fabricated, including incitement, drug-related accusations, and attempts to violently seize power.
The forum also recalled the detention of Samvel Karapetyan, head of the Tashir Group, who spoke out in defense of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Karapetyan was arrested in June 2025 on charges of calling for the seizure of power following his support for the AAC amid attacks by the authorities against the Church. On June 25, the National Security Service searched the homes of supporters of the “Sacred Struggle” movement. Sixteen people were arrested, including the movement’s leader, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. They are accused of attempting to usurp power and preparing a terrorist attack.
On October 3, the head of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of “public calls to seize power.” The head of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, was arrested on October 16 on charges allegedly related to coercing priests to participate in opposition protests. The head of the Chancellery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, was arrested on December 5. According to investigators, he allegedly planted drugs in the bag of one of the participants in a 2018 protest against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.
