Kocharyan accuses Pashinyan of undermining Armenian church

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of undermining key national institutions, including the Armenian Apostolic Church.

“We should not have lost [the 2020 war]. Believe me, Azerbaijan did not possess any decisive advantage,” Kocharyan said in an interview with the 5th Channel on Friday.

“Pashinyan dismantled the army under the pretext of reforms. Now, he’s doing the same with the church,” he stated.

Kocharyan also addressed Pashinyan's campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church. “There are red lines that the current leadership has crossed without hesitation. I’ve thought a lot about it and I still don’t understand what clerical celibacy has to do with national security. I can’t find that connection. But apparently, Pashinyan sees one.”

He went on to say that Pashinyan's credibility has significantly diminished on the international stage. “I don’t believe there’s anyone serious abroad who still trusts him. They don’t trust him, they’re simply using him quite effectively.”

The full interview is scheduled to air tonight.