Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly said he aims to unilaterally remove the head of Armenia's largest religious community, Catholicos Karekin of the Armenian Apostolic Church. His party, Civil Contract, included the commitment in its manifesto for the June elections to parliament, the National Assembly, which it won. Pashinyan's government included the commitment in its Programme for 2026-2031, approved on 20 August. The National Assembly approved the Programme on 25 August. "The removal (retirement) of the de facto head of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church" is now state policy.

The Armenian Church's Supreme Spiritual Council condemned the Government Programme's commitment to remove the Catholicos, and National Assembly approval for it. "The Government has neither the authority nor the constitutionally established competence to make the reform of the Church part of its program or, at its own discretion, impose any ‘proposals' or demands upon the clergy." It added: "The National Assembly has no authority to consider internal Church matters and is neither a competent nor an appropriate forum for discussing them" (see below).

Armenian law recognises religious communities – including the Armenian Church – as autonomous. Armenia's international human rights commitments require it to ensure that "national law leaves it to the religious or belief community itself to decide on its leadership, its internal rules, .. the structure of the community and methods of appointment of the clergy" (see below).

While many in the Armenian Church have concerns about its governance, Forum 18 pointed out to Pashinyan's spokesperson Melanya Harutyunyan that Armenian law states that religious communities are autonomous. It asked why the government is taking steps to try to change the leadership of an autonomous religious community. It also asked if the government is seeking to change the leadership of any other Armenian religious communities (see below).

"We would emphasise that the state neither can nor wishes to appoint a Catholicos," Harutyunyan insisted to Forum 18. "Only the National Ecclesiastical Assembly can do so, and it is precisely the convocation of that Assembly that has been obstructed for 27 years. The state's aim is the restoration of the normal functioning of the Church's own bodies - the very bodies that guarantee its autonomy." She said the government does not seek to change the leadership of any other of Armenia's religious communities (see below).

Among the ruling party deputies voting to support the Programme was Nazeli Baghdasaryan, Pashinyan's former spokesperson. Forum 18 pointed out to her that Armenian law states that religious communities are autonomous. It asked why the government is taking steps (for which she voted in the National Assembly) to try to change the leadership of an autonomous religious community. "As I am no longer the Prime Minister's spokesperson, I am unable to respond to your questions," she responded (see below).

Forum 18 pointed out to Baghdasaryan that she had voted in favour of the Government Programme which included the aim of removing the head of a legally-autonomous religious community and asked her why. It also asked her if she is in favour of removing the leader of any other of Armenia's religious communities, or only the Armenian Apostolic Church. Baghdasaryan did not respond (see below).

Lilit Galstyan, an opposition deputy and chair of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, did not vote on the Government Programme. She did not respond to Forum 18's questions as to whether she supports the government plan to remove the leader of an autonomous religious organisation, if she believes the move would be legal, and what action (if any) her Committee is planning to take on the issue (see below).

The office of Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan did not respond to Forum 18's questions as to what action she and her Office have taken to protect the autonomy of this religious community (Armenian Apostolic Church) and prevent state/government interference in its internal affairs and choice of leaders without its approval (see below).

Vardan Astsatryan of the government's Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called (see below).

Human rights defender Isabella Sargsyan of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation opposes the government's plans to change the leadership of the Armenian Church unilaterally. "It is clear that the Armenian Government and the Armenian Prime Minister are violating not only international standards on freedom of religion or belief, but also other fundamental human rights, including freedom of association and freedom of expression," she notes (see below).

Meanwhile, the trial of Catholicos Karekin and six bishops who are members of the Supreme Spiritual Council is due to continue. The first Judge in Echmiadzin recused himself, the second handed the case to a Yerevan court, the Yerevan Judge handed it to the Cassation Court, and – on 7 September - the Cassation Court handed it back to the second Judge in Echmiadzin. No new court date is yet listed (see below).

Prosecutors have accused the Catholicos and bishops of failing to abide by a court order to reinstate a bishop the Church had dismissed and then defrocked. They face up to two years' imprisonment each if convicted. "This process clearly violates the Church's right to autonomy," human rights defender Isabella Sargsyan notes (see below).

"Religious organisations shall have equal rights and shall enjoy autonomy"

Armenia's 2015 Constitution and the 1991 Religion Law (most recently amended in March 2026) govern relations between the state and religious communities.

Article 41 of the Constitution states that "Religious organisations shall have equal rights and shall enjoy autonomy. The procedure of creation and operation of religious organisations shall be stipulated by law."

Article 17 of the Religion Law includes the provision: "In the Republic of Armenia, Church and State are separate." It adds that as part of this separation, the state "Shall not interfere in the activities and internal affairs of church and Religious Organisations as long as they operate in accordance with the law, no state agency or person acting on behalf of such agency shall operate within a Religious Organisation."

Article 18 of the Religion Law declares that "The State shall finance neither the activity of Religious Organisations nor of atheistic propaganda. At the same time, the state guarantees the right of the members or employees of Religious Organisations to take part in the civil and political life on an equal basis with other citizens."

One religious community, the Armenian Apostolic Church, has a special law: the 2007 Law Regarding the Relationship Between the Republic of Armenia and the Holy Apostolic Armenian Church.

Article 2 of this Law includes the provision: "The Republic of Armenia recognises the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church as autocephalous (self-governing) within its hierarchal scope."

Armenia's international human rights obligations also require it to respect religious organisations' autonomy. The OSCE / Council of Europe Venice Commission Guidelines on the Legal Personality of Religious or Belief Communities declare that "states should observe their obligations by ensuring that national law leaves it to the religious or belief community itself to decide on its leadership, its internal rules, the substantive content of its beliefs, the structure of the community and methods of appointment of the clergy and its name and other symbols".

Party manifesto approves ousting of Catholicos

The Armenian Apostolic Church is headed by Catholicos Karekin from the Holy See at the monastery of Echmiadzin near the capital Yerevan. There have long been severe tensions between the Church leadership and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Catholicos Karekin and Prime Minister Pashinyan have each repeatedly called on the other to leave office.

Since at least May 2025, Pashinyan has led a campaign to oust Catholicos Karekin, the head of Armenia's largest religious community. Pashinyan has also tried to subjugate the Armenian Church to the state, despite the Constitutional separation of the state from religious communities. State agencies have pressured clergy to cut ties with the Catholicos and targeted bishops and priests who have remained loyal to him.

On 3 April 2026, in preparation for the 7 June parliamentary election, the Civil Contract Party led by Pashinyan published its manifesto. "In recent decades, as a result of the activities of the de facto leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, the faithful community has been and continues to be alienated from the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church," it declared.

The manifesto said the party "supports the reform agenda" for the Church. It said it would ensure the removal of the "de facto" head of the Church (a reference to Catholicos Karekin), the appointment of an acting Catholicos and the election of a new Catholicos.

The Supreme Spiritual Council complained on 19 May that these proposed actions "directly violate both the rights of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and fundamental human freedoms and rights".

The Supreme Spiritual Council called for a "fair response" from international structures and human rights organisations to "the unlawful actions of the ruling political force aimed at interfering in the self-governance of the worldwide Armenian Church". It particularly highlighted the Civil Contract party's manifesto "regarding the 'reform' of the Church through the deposition of the nationally elected Patriarch". It stressed: "This step is both uncanonical and illegal."

Civil Contract won the 7 June parliamentary election. It gained 64 of the 105 seats in the National Assembly.

Government Programme approves ousting of Catholicos

On 20 August, the government led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan approved the Government Programme for 2026-2031. The 85-page Programme included a Chapter 7 on "Spiritual Security". The Government identified the replacement of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, as a strategic objective.

"The agenda for reforming the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is aimed at bringing the Church into conformity with canonical principles and preventing its politicisation," the Programme claimed.

The Programme set out several objectives "to ensure spiritual security, prevent attempts by external forces to turn the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church into a foothold for hybrid warfare, and advance the reform of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church".

The Programme declared: "The removal (retirement) of the de facto head of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church [a reference to Catholicos Karekin] will be ensured, and the election of a Catholicosal Vicar will be conducted in accordance with the established procedure." It added that a new Statute for the Church would be adopted "to ensure financial transparency and safeguard the ethical conduct of clergy".

The Programme also declared: "The election of the Catholicos of All Armenians will be conducted in accordance with the established procedure."

The Programme gave no indication that the government had consulted the Church leadership, or that it would undertake any moves in consultation with it.

The Programme gave no indication that the government is trying to change the leadership of any other religious community in Armenia.

National Assembly approves ousting of Catholicos

The government presented to the National Assembly its Programme for 2026-2031, which included the provisions on ousting the Catholicos. The Programme was circulated to deputies on 21 August. Deputies approved the Programme on the afternoon of 25 August. Of the deputies, 64 voted in favour (all of them from the Prime Minister's Civil Contract Party), and 27 against, with no abstentions, according to the National Assembly website. The other 14 deputies were absent or did not vote.

During his presentation of the Programme in Parliament, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that he intends to establish a parliamentary investigative commission to examine issues related to the Armenian Apostolic Church. He further announced that the government will publish a report on the crisis within the Church within one month at the latest.

"The state's aim is the restoration of the normal functioning of the Church's own bodies"?

While many in the Armenian Church have concerns about its governance, Forum 18 pointed out to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's spokesperson Melanya Harutyunyan that Armenian law states that religious communities are autonomous. It asked why the government is taking steps to try to change the leadership of an autonomous religious community. It also asked if the government is seeking to change the leadership of any other Armenian religious communities.

"We would emphasise that the state neither can nor wishes to appoint a Catholicos," Harutyunyan insisted to Forum 18 on 9 September. "Only the National Ecclesiastical Assembly can do so, and it is precisely the convocation of that Assembly that has been obstructed for 27 years. The state's aim is the restoration of the normal functioning of the Church's own bodies - the very bodies that guarantee its autonomy."

Harutyunyan argued that the Church leadership has not abided by the Church's statute. It has not convened a National Ecclesiastical Assembly since 1999, when the statute requires one at least every seven years. The National Ecclesiastical Assembly has not therefore been able to approve the functioning of the Church Representative Assembly, which is supposed to meet every two years but has not done so since 2017.

"As a result of this, the Supreme Spiritual Council has for many years operated with an expired mandate, rendering its activity uncanonical," Harutyunyan maintained. "To this day the Church has no ratified unified Constitution: the documents currently in force were approved by the de facto Catholicos himself and expressly await ratification by the National Ecclesiastical Assembly — which the Catholicos does not convene. Diocesan and parish assemblies and audit commissions are not held."

"We consider it important to state that the government's objective is not simply the question of the particular individual at the head of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, but the restoration of the Church's autonomy," Harutyunyan added, "that the assembly of the Church's supreme body be convened, that its governance and finances become accountable, and that the decision on its leadership be returned to those to whom it is reserved by the Church's own statutes."

Harutyunyan stressed that the government is not aiming to change the leadership of any other of Armenia's religious communities. "The reason is purely factual: no other community presents a 27-year suspension of its own supreme body; persons charged with calls to seize power and with obstructing the execution of a judicial act; a primate [Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan of Russia] identified by the security service as a former recruit of a foreign intelligence service with current contacts; or structures used for electoral campaigning in violation of the Electoral Code."

Among the ruling party deputies voting to support the Programme was Nazeli Baghdasaryan, Pashinyan's former spokesperson. Forum 18 pointed out to her that Armenian law states that religious communities are autonomous. It asked why the government is taking steps (for which she voted in the National Assembly) to try to change the leadership of an autonomous religious community. "As I am no longer the Prime Minister's spokesperson, I am unable to respond to your questions," she responded on 7 September.

Forum 18 pointed out to Baghdasaryan that she had voted in favour of the Government Programme which included the aim of removing the head of a legally-autonomous religious community and asked her why. It also asked her in writing if she is in favour of removing the leader of any other of Armenia's religious communities, or only the Armenian Apostolic Church. Baghdasaryan did not respond by the end of the working day in Yerevan of 9 September.

Lilit Galstyan, an opposition deputy and chair of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, did not vote on the Government Programme. Forum 18 asked her in writing on 8 September:
- What her view is of the government taking these steps to try to change the leadership of an autonomous religious community;
- Whether or not she believes this would be a violation of the law;
- What action (if any) the Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs is planning to take on this issue, as well as on the trial of the Catholicos and 6 senior bishops.
Galstyan did not respond by the end of the working day in Yerevan of 9 September.

Vardan Astsatryan of the government's Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 9 September.

Human rights defender Isabella Sargsyan of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation opposes the government's plans to change the leadership of the Armenian Church unilaterally. "It is clear that the Armenian Government and the Armenian Prime Minister are violating not only international standards on freedom of religion or belief, but also other fundamental human rights, including freedom of association and freedom of expression," she noted after the vote.

Armenian Church condemns government's moves

On 26 August, the Armenian Church's Supreme Spiritual Council condemned the government's moves to change its leadership unilaterally. "Every effort is being made to create artificial pretexts for interference in the internal life and order of the Church," its statement read, "and to restrict the autonomy of the Armenian Church through fabricated accusations against the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians, and the clergy, as well as through unfounded and directed criminal prosecutions, thereby violating the right of the faithful to freedom of religion and conscience."

The Supreme Spiritual Council statement continued: "The Government has neither the authority nor the constitutionally established competence to make the reform of the Church part of its program or, at its own discretion, impose any ‘proposals' or demands upon the clergy."

The statement added: "The National Assembly has no authority to consider internal Church matters and is neither a competent nor an appropriate forum for discussing them. The reform of the Armenian Church cannot be carried out through external pressure, threats, or similar acts of arbitrariness."

The Supreme Spiritual Council connected the aims of the Government Programme with earlier moves against the Church. It pointed to the removal of the subject "History of the Armenian Church" from the general education curriculum, the abolition of the Church's chaplaincy service in the Armed Forces, the suspension of the pastoral ministry of clergy in penitentiary institutions, and the imposition of additional tax obligations on the Church through the application of "unjustified penalties and fines".

Will Human Rights Defender defend autonomy of Armenian Church?

Forum 18 wrote to the office of Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan before the start of the working day in Yerevan of 8 September to ask what action she and her Office have taken to protect the autonomy of this religious community (Armenian Apostolic Church) and prevent state/government interference in its internal affairs and choice of leaders without its approval. Her Office did not respond by the end of the working day in Yerevan of 9 September.

Manasyan's Office declined to comment on 3 August on the criminal trial of the Catholicos and six bishops. Her Office insisted that she must respect "the principles of judicial independence and the separation of powers" and could not therefore "express positions that could be interpreted as influencing the administration of justice".

Criminal case against Catholicos, 6 bishops

Catholicos Karekin defrocked a number of priests for supporting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's campaign against the Church. On 10 January, the Church dismissed Bishop Gevorg Saroyan as head of its Masyatsotn Diocese. He had backed Pashinyan's calls for a change of leadership in the Armenian Church. Police were seen outside the diocesan offices in Masis, apparently to prevent the Church leadership's enforcement of the dismissal.

With Pashinyan's encouragement, Saroyan challenged the dismissal in court. The Court of General Jurisdiction of Civil Cases of Armavir Region ruled on 16 January that he must be reinstated pending its decision on the lawsuit. It also said the Church must not try to stop him from performing his duties in any way, including "the management of the financial resources of the Masyatsotn Diocese and the execution of financial transactions, until the adoption of a final judicial act within the case".

Echmiadzin rejected the court decision, insisting that the Church takes such decisions based on its own canons. On 27 January, the Church's Supreme Spiritual Council defrocked Bishop Gevorg.

The Investigative Committee's General Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases launched a criminal investigation on 29 January under Article 507, Part 2 ("Failing to execute a judicial act or obstructing its execution" by someone in an official position) because the Church leadership had failed to reinstate Gevorg Saroyan as Bishop of its Masyatsotn Diocese.

On 30 January, charges were brought against six bishops who are members of the Supreme Spiritual Council. On 14 February, charges were also brought against Catholicos Karekin.

The Investigative Committee completed its investigation into the Catholicos and six other bishops and handed over the case to the General Prosecutors' Office. In July, the General Prosecutors' Office prepared the case for court.

Prosecutor Khachatur Galstyan presented the case to Armavir Region First Instance Court in Echmiadzin (where the Church headquarters are located) on 28 July, which assigned it to Judge Hakob Manukyan.

Those on trial are:
- Catholicos Karekin II Nersisyan (born Ktrich Nersisyan, 21 August 1951)
- Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian (born Samvel Hovhannisian, 9 May 1955)
- Archbishop Haykazun Najarian (born Vrezh Najarian, 1952)
- Bishop Vahan Hovhannesyan (born Sarkis Hovhannesyan, 1 January 1963)
- Bishop Makar Hakobyan (born Edgar Hakobyan, 23 July 1979)
- Bishop Moushegh Babayan (born Nelson Babayan, 12 February 1978)
- Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan (born Artur Hakobyan, 4 March 1978)

"Karekin II Nersisyan is accused of committing a prohibited act under threat of punishment, committed with intent, that he, being also the Chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church religious organisation, using his official powers, obstructed the execution of another judicial act that has entered into legal force," the court listing for the case notes. It details the court decision over defrocked bishop Gevorg (Arman) Saroyan.

The case notes are shorter for the other six bishops. Each is described as "accused of committing a crime prohibited by the threat of punishment, that he, being a high-ranking clergyman, archbishop, included in the Supreme Spiritual Council of the religious organisation Armenian Apostolic Holy Church .. using his official powers, obstructed the execution of another judicial act that has entered into legal force".

Court records list the defrocked bishop Gevorg (Arman) Saroyan as a victim in the case.

If convicted, the seven clergy face a fine, community service of up to 150 hours, restricted freedom of up to two years, or a jail term of up to two years.

Catholicos Karekin and the six bishops are all under travel bans, court records note.

Hearings in Echmiadzin, Yerevan, Echmiadzin

The closed preliminary hearing at Armavir Region First Instance Court in Echmiadzin on 7 August - attended by Catholicos Karekin - was brief. Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself. He said that as he had earlier worked as a lawyer and Ara Zohrabyan - who is leading the defence team - had once granted his licence to practise law, he felt he would not be seen as impartial.

Zohrabyan expressed unhappiness at the Judge's decision. "However, he refused to take part in this disgraceful trial," Zohrabyan told journalists outside the court. "The very fact that the Catholicos is standing trial is deeply troubling. The case will now go to another judge."

After a service that evening in Echmiadzin cathedral, Catholicos Karekin insisted to supporters outside that all the defendants are innocent. "We remain steadfast in our faith and determination to defend our rights, which are guaranteed both by our country's Constitution and by the fundamental principles of international law."

Judge Serzh Rushanyan of Armavir Region First Instance Court was appointed on 10 August to hear the case. However, at a hearing on 28 August he insisted that the case should be investigated at the place where the alleged crime was committed, and the place of that crime was not specified in the indictment. He sent the case to Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction, in whose territory the investigative department had conducted the preliminary investigation.

"We have also appealed to the Cassation Court," lawyer Armine Fanyan told Radio Liberty's Armenian Service on behalf of the defence team. "We believe that Armavir Region First Instance Court should examine the case."

At a hearing at Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction on 3 September, Judge Vahagn Melikyan asked the Cassation Court in Yerevan to resolve the issue of jurisdiction, according to court records.

On 7 September, the Cassation Court ruled that "the criminal proceedings are within the jurisdiction of the Armavir Region First Instance Court" and sent it back. The Supreme Judicial Council informed Radio Liberty that Judge Rushanyan will hear the case. No new court date is yet listed.

The lawyer Armine Fanyan, who represents Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan and Bishop Makar Hakobyan, insists all seven defendants should be acquitted. "The trial is obviously illegal," she told Forum 18 from Yerevan on 3 August. "All are innocent."

Meanwhile, on 3 September, the General Prosecutor's Office confirmed to the local media that Prosecutor Khachatur Galstyan, who prepared and presented to court the case against the bishops had resigned. It said his resignation was unconnected with the case. Galstyan has returned to legal practice.

Need to defend a bishop or violation of the Church's autonomy?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's spokesperson Melanya Harutyunyan describes the criminal case against the Catholicos and six bishops as "telling".

"After being removed from office by the sole decision of the de facto Catholicos, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan was reinstated by a judicial act," Harutyunyan insisted to Forum 18 on 9 September. "In effect, a secular court was compelled to protect a bishop, because the Church's own procedure for removing a diocesan primate no longer has any competent body functioning on a canonical basis; instead, defrockings are carried out by the unanimous and uncanonical decisions of the de facto Catholicos."

Human rights defender Isabella Sargsyan is among many who have pointed out that, "for the first time in Armenia's modern history", the Catholicos and six bishops are appearing before a court. "This process clearly violates the Church's right to autonomy." (END)

More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Armenia

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