Armenian opposition MP decries dissolution of military chaplaincy

Armenian opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan has denounced the dissolution of the military chaplaincy ordered by Defense Minister Suren Papikyan.

In a social media post on Saturday, Abrahamyan, secretary of the opposition Pativ Unem faction, accused the government of pursuing a politically motivated policy that has led to a sharp decline in the number of chaplains serving in the military.

He said the ministry had justified the move by arguing that the chaplaincy’s previous status created a problem of “dual subordination” to both the armed forces and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

However, he rejected this explanation, claiming that the reform had effectively collapsed the institution. According to Abrahamyan, the actual number of regimental chaplains has been reduced by approximately 80–90% as a result of the decision.

The MP also questioned the consistency of the government’s position, pointing to the presence of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) military counterintelligence units within the armed forces.

“If dual subordination is unacceptable, what is to happen to the NSS military counterintelligence, which operates inside the army but is subordinate not to the Ministry of Defence, but to the NSS?” he asked.