Pashinyan is afraid of losing power and even his life, says political analyst
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan continues to attack the Armenian Apostolic Church. The anti-church campaigns by Pashinyan are explained by his fear of losing power or even his life, said Russian-based political analyst Andranik Mihranyan told Moskovskij Komsomolets.
According to the analyst, Pashinyan is going to sign a peace treaty with Baku, which a significant part of Armenian society opposes. Mihranyan notes that there is no organized opposition in Armenia. However, last year, protests led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Primate of the Diocese of Tavush, showed that the church still holds significant influence and has mobilization capabilities. At that time, 40,000–50,000 people participated in the rallies.
“The anti-church campaign by Pashinyan is related to the fact that the church is actually the only remaining autonomous institution in society, possessing its own financial, organizational, and mobilization resources, and can create serious problems for the prime minister. Therefore, he is trying to weaken and, if possible, destroy this institution in advance. Moreover, as far as I know, both he and his wife belong to a well-organized sect within the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Church could pose a serious threat to Pashinyan, especially ahead of the 2026 elections,” the analyst explained.
Regarding the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he stated that nobody has seen the final version yet. It is known that it recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, including Karabakh. Baku’s most fundamental demand is that Armenia revise its constitution. There is also Erdogan’s demand to recognize Turkey’s territorial integrity, close the “Western Armenia” issue, and forget about the Armenian Genocide.
“Who could imagine that the defeated person responsible for losing Karabakh—causing the deaths of thousands, the forced displacement of 120,000 Armenians from Karabakh, and 30,000 refugees—could remain at the helm of the state? Who would continue to tolerate such a government? Unfortunately, it turns out that the people are already so afraid. Pashinyan has created a real police state. He moves around with a few hundred security personnel. He is afraid of everything. But the people are also afraid. When Putin wanted to stop the war in October, Pashinyan refused. ‘Otherwise, we would have to give up several regions, and I would be accused of treason,’ he said. He continued the war, and had to give up even more. There were enormous losses, people lost many of their children, and they were broken and afraid. He also constantly blackmails people, saying that if Armenia does not make concessions, there will be another war and more losses,” Mihranyan concluded.
