Armenia faces a deepening power struggle as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan openly attacks Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, intensifying long-standing tensions between the state and the Armenian Apostolic Church ahead of the 2026 elections. The conflict exposes constitutional dilemmas over church-state boundaries in Armenia and raises fears of escalating unrest amid Yerevan’s fragile efforts to normalize relations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Allegations of corruption and political obstruction surrounding the Church amplify Armenia’s internal divisions, threatening its national identity and weakening public trust in both religious and political institutions.
Pashinyan Escalates Tensions With Armenian Apostolic Church – Jamestown
