Armenian Consulate in Yekaterinburg shuts down After counsul’s dismissal

The Armenian consulate in the Urals has terminated its operations.

The closure follows the dismissal of Narek Spartakyan, the honorary consul in Yekaterinburg, who had expressed support for the Armenian Church, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Dear citizens, due to the suspension of the honorary consul status of Narek Spartakyan in Yekaterinburg, we are compelled to announce that the office of the honorary consul of Armenia in Yekaterinburg has ceased its operations,” the statement reads.

Narek Spartakyan’s dismissal, reported on July 29, by Russian media, stemmed from his public condemnation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church and the arrest of prominent Armenian-Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. 

Spartakyan, aged 35, stated, “I consider any actions against the Armenian Apostolic Church, an important foundation of the spiritual unity of all Armenians, unacceptable.” He also praised Karapetyan, who was arrested on June 18, 2025, shortly after opposing Pashinyan’s efforts to remove Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Church. Karapetyan faces charges of inciting a violent overthrow of the government, which he and his supporters reject as politically motivated.

By Khagan Isayev