Armenian analyst says government plans to elect "alternative Catholicos"

Armenian authorities are preparing a new attack on the Armenian Apostolic Church, political analyst and Democratic Alternative party leader Suren Surenyants told Armenian media, commenting on a recent press conference by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“According to information I have, the authorities plan to implement a highly risky scheme by staging a National Church Assembly. A puppet body will be formed, which will supposedly elect an ‘alternative Catholicos’ on behalf of the people. The aim is to discredit the Church following a scenario similar to the Ukrainian case. This will then be presented as part of a geopolitical course change, and the clergy will be labeled as Russian agents,” Surenyants said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

He added that the authorities are already negotiating with one of the bishops to secure support for their plans. He did not disclose the bishop’s name but noted that he is currently outside Armenia, though not in Turkey.

Tensions between the Armenian government and the Armenian Apostolic Church escalated after Prime Minister Pashinyan’s recent social media posts, which included sharp criticism and accusations against the senior clergy. Later, Pashinyan proposed changing the election process of the Catholicos of All Armenians to give the state a decisive role.

By Khagan Isayev