Catholicos Karekin II, the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, faced trial on criminal charges in Vagharshapat on Friday as tensions between the influential religious institution and the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan continued to intensify. Karekin and six other senior clerics are accused of defying a court order mandating the reinstatement of a defrocked bishop. Conviction could result in sentences of up to two years in prison for those charged.
The underlying conflict stems from broader disagreements between the church and the government regarding Armenia’s foreign policy. In 2024, tens of thousands of demonstrators organized by senior clergy members called for Pashinyan’s removal, protesting Armenia’s agreement to cede control of border villages to Azerbaijan and establish normalized relations with the neighboring country following decades of territorial disputes. Church leaders have been critical of these decisions. The tensions have continued following Pashinyan’s reelection earlier this year.
The immediate charges relate to events from January, when the church defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan following accusations of abuse of power. Saroyan, who had previously called for Karekin’s removal, challenged his defrocking in court. A judge ruled in Saroyan’s favor and ordered his reinstatement, but the church refused to comply. Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s office subsequently initiated the case against Karekin and the other clerics in February, also imposing travel restrictions on the defendants.
During Friday’s hearing, the assigned judge recused himself from the case. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the courthouse, along with opposition party members and representatives of civil society organizations. According to the church leadership, the current actions by authorities represent an attempt to undermine the institution’s independence and autonomy. The case is part of a broader pattern of legal action against church officials; two other senior clerics faced arrests and charges in the preceding year on matters related to political activities and calls for government change.
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