Armenian lawyer warns ruling party could escalate pressure on church if re-elected

Armenian lawyer Ara Zohrabyan claimed on Monday that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party could intensify its campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church if it secures victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a press conference, Zohrabyan alleged that while current tensions appear limited, “criminal and legal instruments are constantly at work,” with investigators pursuing cases and gathering materials against the church. He suggested that a more aggressive push could begin after June 7, should the party perform strongly at the polls.

Zohrabyan argued that the inclusion of an “anti-constitutional thesis” in Civil Contract’s election program signals intent to weaken the church’s role. “If they succeed, they will say the people gave them a mandate to dismantle the church and they will carry out their dirty work in full force,” he said.

He further claimed that Pashinyan has avoided direct interference in religious life for now, citing concerns that such actions could damage his approval ratings. Zohrabyan also suggested that external actors, including Turkish and Azerbaijani interests, benefit from efforts to undermine the church, which he described as a historic source of resilience for Armenians.