Struggle for Faith: Religion is a ‘red line’ for the Armenian nation: Russian media on events in Armenia
Russian media have actively covered the confrontation between representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the National Security Service (NSS) in Etchmiadzin. Prominent media outlets such as TASS, RIA Novosti, Kommersant, Izvestia, Lenta.ru, Gazeta.ru, Mk.ru, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, RT, and other reputable news agencies and websites have reported on the situation.
As noted, employees of Armenia’s National Security Service arrived at the residence of the Supreme Patriarch—the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—to arrest Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan. They faced clergy and people who had gathered at the residence. It was noted that the confrontation between the Armenian Apostolic Church and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has recently intensified. Since May 2025, Pashinyan has been actively criticizing the Church and its representatives, including allegations of violating vows of celibacy. Accusations have also been voiced against Catholicos Garegin II. Pashinyan has called on him to resign. Despite this, the core of the conflict is considered to be Garegin II’s patriotic stance and his support for opposition forces.
The Armenian opposition is calling on its supporters to gather in Etchmiadzin to prevent the arrest of clergy by security forces. The National Security Service is deploying additional forces from Yerevan to Etchmiadzin to arrest Ajapahyan; at the same time, Isakov Avenue has been closed. On May 30, Pashinyan and his wife, Anna Hakobyan, made several posts on social media containing derogatory remarks about representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The court, upon the request of the Investigative Committee, has detained 15 individuals on charges of preparing terrorist attacks and attempting to seize power. Some of them are members of the Sacred Struggle opposition movement and other opposition figures.
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Leader of the Sacred Struggle opposition movement, has also been detained for two months. The situation is described as unprecedented—such brutal acts by authorities have never occurred in the history of the Armenian people and the Church. This fact could simply encourage society to rise up, and unpredictable consequences may follow. Religion is a “red line” for the Armenian nation.
