Rift between PM, catholicos deepening in Armenia

A conflict is growing worse between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Catholicos Karekin II in Armenia.

The fact that bad blood brewed between them is explained by the fact that this year Pashinyan did not congratulate the Catholicos on his birthday, which was celebrated on August 21, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Although in the previous three years, Pashinyan used to congratulate Karekin II "warmly", emphasising in his wishes "the great importance and role of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the life of the people".

Discord in their relationship had sparked after the defeat of Armenia in the 44-day Second Karabakh War, when the Catholicos began to publicly criticise the government. According to some reports, government-controlled media and public figures of Armenia were instructed not to cover the activities of the Catholicos in any way.