Analyst: Pashinyan seeks to discredit church, justify state interference in religious affairs

Political analyst Suren Surenyants has accused Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of turning religion into a political weapon after the premier vowed to “continue our prayers at Hovhannavank and later at the Mother See of Etchmiadzin”.

Speaking after the Armenian Apostolic Church condemned a defrocked priest-led liturgy at Hovhannavank as a "blasphemous show", Surenyants said Pashinyan's remarks were not an act of reconciliation, but marked a new stage in his campaign aimed at undermining the church.

“Pashinyan’s reaction goes far beyond the behavior expected from a statesman,” Surenyants told local media. “He has publicly insulted the catholicos and questioned the church’s right to act independently.”

According to Surenyants, the Armenian leadership’s campaign seeks to discredit the Armenian Apostolic Church and justify state interference in religious affairs.

“This is an attempt to replace spiritual authority with political influence,” the analyst said. “When prayer is turned into a political weapon, law and national identity are put at risk."