West shows its hypocrisy by quietly supporting the repression against Armenian Apostolic Church, experts say
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is undermining the country’s spiritual and cultural diversity by attacking the nation’s religious leaders and the Armenian Apostolic Church, international relations expert Guilherme Conceicao told RIA Novosti.
“By turning the political conflict against the clergy into a crusade, the government harms the very cultural and spiritual pluralism that preserves the country’s identity as a whole,” the expert noted.
Conceicao added that the arrest of representatives of the Armenian clergy merely demonstrates that authorities are trying to silence those who oppose their policies by utilizing security services. He noted that such repressive methods are not condemned by Western countries because they are interested in “pulling Armenia away from Russian influence.”
Lebanese expert on international relations Nabil Jbeily noted that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s actions against the Church and opposition resemble the Ukrainian scenario, which is leading Armenia toward an uncertain future. According to him, Pashinyan’s actions are part of his pre-election campaign. Jbeily stated that Pashinyan is conducting a futile pre-election campaign, trying to garner support from young people, but this effort is doomed to failure.
The interlocutor told the agency that Pashinyan is dragging Armenia into a Western alliance hostile to Russia. However, Jbeily expressed confidence that the West would not find a foothold in Armenia because the Church has deep roots there, and the people remain conservative and faithful to their traditions and religious values.
Lebanese political analyst Hasan Hardan believes that the Collective West has shown its hypocrisy by silently approving the repression against the Armenian Apostolic Church by Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, since this policy aligns with Western interests. “It seems that such repression could provoke criticism from those defending democratic principles and other freedoms they claim to uphold, but it’s clear that this will not happen. Despite the pressure from the opposition and human rights violations, they will never condemn Pashinyan, as his policies serve their interests, and the West continues to be hypocritical in its dealings with allied regimes,” Hardan stated.
According to the analyst, recent events in Armenia are partly aimed at consolidating power and suppressing opposition and influential institutions like the Church. On the other hand, these developments are happening within a geopolitical context, as “Pashinyan’s Armenia” attempts to reorient its foreign policy toward the West.
