Experts mention 2 possible scenarios for situation development in Armenia

The first rupture in the relations between the government and the Church in Armenia occurred in 2018, Iranian expert Hamid Khosrovshahi told Sputnik.

“The first break in relations between the government and the Church in Armenia happened in 2018, when, after the coup, the new government sought support on the streets—replacing traditional institutions,” Khosrovshahi stated.

He explained that the arrests of Archbishops Bagrat Galstanyan and Mikayel Ajapahyan took place a year before the parliamentary elections and at a decisive moment in peace negotiations with Azerbaijan. The expert believes that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan fears that the clergy could disrupt these processes.

Dmitry Solonnikov, Director of the Institute for the Development of Modern State, told RT that Nikol Pashinyan is acting according to a scenario brought from the West. According to him, there are two possible scenarios for the development of the situation in Armenia. The first is that the politician will eliminate active opposition figures, financial institutions that may support them, and religious leaders. Then, he plans to run for the 2026 elections, where no one will compete against him. The second scenario is that attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church will provoke a serious wave of protests, leading to opposition unification and the creation of a united front. “A change of power could happen earlier than next June,” Solonnikov said.