Tensions are growing in Armenia after the arrest of Archbishop Mikael Adjapayan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, in what critics are calling a blatant pre-election crackdown by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan against religious and political opposition.
Adjapayan was arrested under Part 2 of Article 422 of Armenia’s Criminal Code for allegedly making public calls to seize power, following coordinated raids on church properties by security forces. The arrest comes amid a wave of detentions of religious leaders and opposition figures accused by Pashinyan’s government of plotting a coup.
Authorities claim the crackdown is necessary to protect Armenia’s constitutional order, but it is widely seen it is an abuse of power designed to silence dissent before elections. The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the country’s most respected institutions, has clashed with Pashinyan over his public attacks on church leadership and his broader efforts to marginalize religious influence in Armenian society.
Pashinyan, who came to power in 2018 with promises of democratic reform, has seen his popularity erode amid ongoing economic struggles and regional tensions. Earlier this year, he visited Washington to bolster his international image, presenting himself as a champion of democracy while securing continued support from U.S. Democratic leadership eager to position Armenia as a “democratic partner” in the region.
However, human rights advocates warn that Pashinyan is leveraging this Western backing to entrench his power at home. His administration’s recent actions against clergy and political opponents suggest a growing intolerance for dissent, raising concerns about democratic backsliding in a nation once seen as a beacon of post-Soviet reform.
Observers note that the arrest of Archbishop Adjapayan, following that of other prominent clerics and opposition figures, may deepen political divides and further destabilize Armenia as elections approach. Calls for the immediate release of Adjapayan and other detained figures are growing, as church leaders and civil society warn that the government’s aggressive tactics threaten to undermine the country’s fragile democracy.
With input from Armenian Weekly, News.am
