Armenian Prime Minister announces rally to remove the Catholicos

Nikol Pashinyan and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on May 14, 2018. Photo: Civilnet

On July 20, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the organization of a mass rally in the central square of Etchmiadzin – the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. According to Pashinyan, the aim of the gathering is to remove Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II from office.

“Prepare for the Great Spiritual Gathering in the central square of Etchmiadzin,” the Prime Minister wrote on social media. While he did not specify the date of the event, members of his “Civil Contract” party have already begun circulating calls to participate, indicating that preparations are underway.

In his post, Pashinyan also stated: “Undesirable, painful, but logical: when a married couple can no longer honor their covenant, they divorce. The same must happen with the Church. Ktrich Nersisyan must vacate the Veharan.”

By referring to the Catholicos by his secular name, Pashinyan effectively accused him of violating church vows and demanded that he vacate the Veharan – the official residence of the head of the Armenian Church.

These remarks sparked a wave of criticism. Human rights defender Arman Tatoyan called the Prime Minister’s actions “a provocation against the Church” and warned that pressure on a religious institution violates the principle of separation enshrined in the Constitution of Armenia.

Observers note that this announcement deepens the ongoing conflict between the government and the Armenian Church – a conflict that has been simmering since 2020, when Armenia suffered defeat in the Karabakh war and Catholicos Karekin II was one of the first public figures to call for Pashinyan’s resignation.

It is worth noting that the Prime Minister has previously declared his intention to launch a campaign to “purify” the Armenian Apostolic Church using the methods of the 2018 “Velvet Revolution.” According to Pashinyan, this is a peaceful movement against clergy who violate their vows – a stance that has only intensified the already sharp conflict between Church and state.

The UOJ had earlier reported that Pashinyan stated he would personally lead the “liberation” of the Armenian Church.

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