Media: Garegin II could be detained at Yerevan airport ahead of key Church meeting

Armenian authorities are reportedly preparing to block an episcopal assembly convened by Catholicos Garegin II, scheduled for December 10–12.

According to Caliber.Az, citing the newspaper Zhoghovurd, the Catholicos announced the assembly on December 4, noting that the main topics would include recent developments within the Armenian Church and issues concerning internal church life.

Sources indicate that law enforcement may detain Garegin II upon his arrival at Yerevan airport today from Marseille. Zhoghovurd notes, however, that it remains unclear how successful authorities will be in carrying out such actions.

The tension reflects a growing rift between the Armenian government and the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), which has sharply escalated in 2025 and centres on the Catholicos. The conflict intensified after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly accused Garegin II of violating his vow of celibacy—a claim that, under Church law, could render him ineligible to hold office.

This allegation comes after years of mounting friction, during which the Church openly criticized Pashinyan’s handling of national crises, including the aftermath of the 2020 war. In response, the Prime Minister has sought to reduce the Church’s influence over Armenian society, proposing mechanisms to replace Garegin II and engaging diplomats abroad to convince diaspora church leaders to support government positions.

Reports also suggest that certain clerics were offered ecclesiastical advancement in exchange for backing the government’s campaign.

Observers note that the confrontation goes beyond personal disputes, representing a broader struggle over the Church’s role in Armenia’s social and political life. As one of the country’s most trusted institutions, the Church has condemned the government’s actions as politically motivated attempts to undermine its authority.

By Tamilla Hasanova