Armenian Church leaders face trial amid deepening political standoff

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, currently pivoting the nation toward Western alliances, has repeatedly demanded the resignation of the Catholicos, who has led the Church since 1999. The government accuses the institution of acting as a proxy for Russian interests, a claim the Church vehemently denies. The trial centers on the refusal to reinstate a defrocked bishop, Gevorg Saroyan, who had aligned himself with Pashinyan. If convicted, the clerics face up to two years in prison.

Legal experts and opposition figures argue the case represents a dangerous expansion of executive power into religious affairs. Anna Melikyan of Protection of Rights Without Borders described the proceedings as a clear violation of the Church’s constitutional independence. This legal challenge arrives as Pashinyan faces intense backlash over his handling of peace negotiations with Azerbaijan and a strategic departure from Moscow’s influence. Analysts suggest the trial is part of a broader pattern of selective justice, designed to neutralize a key institution capable of mobilizing the public against the current administration.