As Armenia edges closer to its next parliamentary elections, a dangerous rift is widening between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC). What began as a quiet tug-of-war over moral authority has evolved into an all-out political confrontation, the one that now threatens not only the stability of Armenia’s fragile democracy but also its prospects for peace with Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan, once seen as the only political figure trusted by a weary and disillusioned public, faces an opposition that has learned to hide behind the cross. The Church, long regarded as the moral compass of the Armenian nation, has become the new vehicle for Armenia’s nationalist and revanchist forces. The arrest of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of the so-called “Holy Struggle” movement, marks a turning point in this escalating conflict. His detention has emboldened the opposition and deepened the perception that Armenia’s spiritual leadership has transformed into an active political player.

At the heart of this struggle lies one of the most contentious issues in Armenia’s modern history: peace with Azerbaijan. In recent months, Pashinyan has signalled a pragmatic willingness to move towards a final peace agreement, acknowledging that Armenia cannot afford another generation of hostility. But this shift has enraged the Church and the nationalist opposition, who see any compromise with Baku as a betrayal of the nation’s honour.

The clergy accuse Pashinyan of making decisions that favour Azerbaijan rather than defending Armenian interests. They claim that peace........

© AzerNews