Jankowski: Lone Pasinian

There are countries and nations in which religion is not an addition, but an essence. 1 of them is Armenia.

Last year's run against church leaders has been a political conflict for survival. Nikola PasinateBut he's besides pushing more and more people distant from him. Not just from the planet of politics.

Good face to the bad game

Did anyone even announcement Paszynian's visit to Warsaw? Well, as individual did, but it wasn't the most crucial news of the day. Apart from diplomatic training, there were no specifics. After all, the Prime Minister of Armenia was to show his ‘independence’ and ‘pro-Europeanity’, but the question whether the past months had not made him politically weak.

The Prime Minister late divided up with his partner, Anna Hakobian. However, this individual conflict coincided with serious political shocks and it is hard to believe that it is simply a breakup. Hakobian will leave the government residence. She stated that she would rent an apartment, build her own house, stating that only 5 million Armenian dramas (less than 50,000 zlotys) were left in her bank account. She intends to proceed working at the My Step Foundation, but admitted that she was in danger of criminal proceedings related to the Foundation's activities. Situation This seems more like an effort to leave a sinking ship than a breakup.

Pasinate acts like everything's fine. He flew to Poland with a two-day authoritative visit, took any photos in Warsaw and discussed European perspectives. Meanwhile, there is an unprecedented run in the country against the Armenian Apostolic Church, the most crucial de facto institutions.

It's not about secularity, it's about Armenia.

On 14 February, the General Prosecutor of Armenia initiated criminal proceedings against the head of the church, a Catholic Karekin II. Formal reason – "obstruction of judicial action" – sounds very bureaucratic. Hierarch allegedly prevented a individual deprived of the same spirit from returning to his spiritual condition. Karekin II signed commitment to not leave the country. For this reason, he could not attend the key gathering of Armenian bishops in Austria on 16-19 February. He took part in it through... Zoom.

In fact, Prime Minister Pasynian ruthlessly eliminates his main rival before the June 2026 parliamentary elections. Catholicos is profoundly opposed to Paszynian's politics and is an authority for a immense part of voters. It does. So to deprive him of this authority.

The government not only interferes in the interior affairs of the Church, but exceeds the limits established for centuries. Father Gabriel Calvo, a Spanish clergyman, theologian and writer, presented a clear evaluation Legal: "The ban on the Head of the Church of Armenia leaving the country can be considered as an act violating the fundamental rights set out in global government on spiritual freedom". Exactly. European standards?

Conflict History

But why specified hostility between the Prime Minister and the Church? Catholicos openly expresses dissatisfaction with Paszynian's consent to Azerbaijan's takeover of Nagorno Karabach, a region for which Armenians fought and died for him not only in the last generation. It's something many citizens of the country can't accept. Paszynian, meanwhile, showed up without embarrassing himself with the leaders of the countries who were behind this decision: Turkish president Recep Erdoǧaneven Azerbaijani Ilham Aliyev. In addition, he added importance to this in the “conciliatory” meetings held by Donald Trump.

Karekin II became a symbol of opposition to this policy. In response, the Prime Minister resorted to profanity towards the patriarch, systematic interrogations of clergymen and public repression. erstwhile Ombudsman Ruben Melican expressed widespread outrage. Name criminal prosecution of Catholicos ‘historical shame’ And a clear political attack.

The strategy is falling apart from the inside. Archbishop Hownan Derderian, the leader of the Church who had previously supported the reforms of the Prime Minister, signed a message at the Austrian meeting. Signatories request that the persecution of the Church cease. The public condemnation of even fresh allies is simply a sign of more than a crisis of trust; it points to the collapse of the political project. However, feedinate is not deceived. Responding to the Austrian Synod, beginning threatened: “I will not let it. If additional measures are needed, they will be taken.".

A strategical mistake?

‘It is clear that globalist politicians in Armenia are striving for the same thing they sought in Spain – to take the highest positions in the spiritual hierarchy to destruct the Church from within and undermine the moral and spiritual strength of the nation” “The father Gabriel Calvo comments. However, it seems that the analogy is insufficient, and this is due to the characteristics of Armenianism in general.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is more than a spiritual organization. For centuries it has been the foundation of national identity, uniting diaspora and shaping the country's global image. Trying to trap a leader just before the elections is not just a political strategy; it is an effort to destruct the last institution capable of considerable resistance.

The irony is deep. The leader who came to power, defending freedom and fighting corruption, now arrests political opponents and criminalizes the erstwhile supporting Church. His erstwhile partner, on the another hand, admits to her criminal charges under the strategy created by Paszynian. It's a vicious circle. But the Prime Minister's conscious choice.

Tomasz Jankowski