Armenian government plans to strip Etchmiadzin of land ownership rights

The Armenian government is reportedly preparing to strip the Armenian Apostolic Church, based in Etchmiadzin, of ownership rights to certain land parcels, retaining only the right to use them without compensation.

Draft amendments to the Land Code are scheduled for discussion at tomorrow’s government session. If adopted, the amendments would invalidate the article in the code that currently grants Etchmiadzin full ownership of church lands, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The authors of the draft legislation note that another provision in the Land Code already guarantees the church the right to use these lands free of charge, implying that full ownership is no longer necessary.

The developments come amid escalating tensions in Armenia between the government and the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which have intensified since mid-2025. The confrontation centres on the Catholicos of All Armenians, Garegin II (secular name: Ktrich Nersisyan).

Prime Minister Pashinyan has repeatedly accused Garegin II of illegitimately retaining his position, violating his vow of celibacy, and fathering a child, and has publicly called on him to resign. Church leaders, for their part, have accused the prime minister of orchestrating an anti-church campaign.

By Vafa Guliyeva