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Tensions between government and church intensify in Armenia

17 October 2025 17:33 (UTC +04:00)

The Armenian Church has confirmed the authenticity of an audio recording circulating online that features a conversation in 2023 between Archimandrite Natan Ovannisyan and priest Aghan Erndjakyan, who is close to the Catholicos, APA reports, citing Armenian media.

According to the information, it emerged from that conversation that the Catholicos forced the priests to participate in anti-government protests.

Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ruben Rubinyan reacted sharply to the audio recording that was circulated on the Internet:

“Well, how can the most sacred institution of 1,700 years be thrown at the feet of Kocharyan and a Russian businessman? For what purpose? The Armenian Apostolic Church must be protected from the attacks of Ktrich Nersisyan (Garegin II). His campaign against the church must be stopped. The person who broke the oath must resign.”

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia confirmed that the circulated audio recording will be investigated as part of a criminal case.

Note that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan does not agree with the accusations of attacks on the Armenian Church. “First of all, let's start with the fact that there is no attack on the Armenian Apostolic Church from my side. I would like to note that nowhere in church documents is it written that the person holding the position of Catholicos and the church are the same. Nowhere is it written that the bishop and the church are the same,” the Armenian Prime Minister said.

Recall that six priests were arrested in Armenia, and charges were brought against a relative of the bishop of Karekin II.