Yerevan’s Holy Struggle: Clergy Arrested, Church Decries State Persecution

A significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle between Armenia’s secular authorities and the influential Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) has seen the arrest of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. Proshyan, who heads the Aragatsotn Diocese, has been detained for at least two months, facing serious allegations of interfering with electoral processes and coercing subordinates to participate in opposition rallies. This move by the state against the spiritual leadership has effectively paralyzed an entire diocese, deepening the chasm between government and church.

The Yerevan City Criminal Court of First Instance sanctioned the two-month arrest of Bishop Proshyan. Law enforcement agencies have charged him with obstructing the exercise of electoral rights and the work of election commissions, an offense punishable by up to six years in prison. Furthermore, he faces accusations of compelling individuals to attend rallies, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years. The criminal case was initiated following a report from the civil society organization ‘Union of Informed Citizens,’ prompted by a statement from Father Aram Asatryan of the Ohanavank church, who claimed on Public Television that his participation in 2021 opposition rallies was not voluntary but directed by his superiors.

The scale of the investigation underscores its political sensitivity. Bishop Proshyan’s lawyer, Yerem Sargsyan, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the inquiry, stating that a team of 54 investigators has been assigned to the case. “The case of Archbishop Mkrtich holds such ‘state importance’ that the investigative team formed for it consists of 54 investigators. Fifty-four investigators are dealing with AAC issues, leaving nothing to chance,” Sargsyan remarked, emphasizing the extraordinary resources deployed.

Proshyan is not just any bishop; he is the nephew of Catholicos Karekin II, whom Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been attempting to oust for months. Pashinyan has publicly accused the Catholicos of corruption, violating his monastic vows of celibacy, and even insinuated his involvement in an alleged coup plot. Proshyan’s detention occurred in the early hours of October 15, part of a broader sweep that also saw the arrest of 12 other clergymen, an accountant, a treasurer, and a clerk from the Aragatsotn Diocese. Among them, Father Garegin Arsenyan, head of the Aragatsotn Diocese chancellery and rector of the Saint Gevork Church in Mughni, was arrested for a month, suspected of assisting Proshyan in alleged crimes. Other detainees were granted witness status.

The Armenian Apostolic Church has vehemently condemned these actions. The press service for Catholicos Karekin II issued a statement declaring, “The illegal criminal prosecution of the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese, priests, and employees of the diocese is another manifestation of the organized anti-church campaign initiated by the authorities. Such reprehensible actions pursue a clearly malicious goal – to paralyze the normal activities of the Church, undermine its authority, and sow an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among the clergy, believers, and broad sections of the public.”

Moreover, the AAC asserts that by employing such repressive measures, the Armenian authorities are gravely trampling on the right to freedom of religion, insulting the religious sentiments of believers, and continuing to sow hatred and incite enmity, thereby deepening societal division. Despite this, the Church has called upon its parishioners to resist provocations and stand in defense of their spiritual leaders.

In response to the Church’s outcry, authorities reported the results of a search at Proshyan’s residence, showcasing bundles of euros, dollars, rubles, and drams. Arayik Harutyunyan, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, notably pointed to a two-dollar bill in one of the operational photos, a symbol often associated with superstition for good luck. Harutyunyan cynically remarked, “How can one not go crazy when, instead of faith in God, these people believe in emptiness! They are not followers of Jesus Christ – they are followers of Jefferson,” referencing the third US president depicted on the bill.

Political analyst Tigran Kocharyan suggests that while the authorities may limit themselves to arresting the Catholicos’s entourage, they are unlikely to directly target Karekin II. “Due to Armenian traditions, it is difficult to attack Karekin II directly,” Kocharyan told ‘NG.’ “Instead, Pashinyan might try to create an alternative church, which could be called, for example, the ‘Apostolic Church of Armenia.’ The head of this organization would be approved by the prime minister. We already see something similar in Turkey, where the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople operates.”

Regardless of future strategies, the crackdown is broad. Currently, the heads of three AAC dioceses are behind bars: Proshyan from Aragatsotn, Mikael Ajapahyan from Shirak, and Bagrat Galstanyan from Tavush. Ajapahyan has already been sentenced to two years for inciting a coup, while Galstanyan faces up to 15 years for preparing a rebellion. The state’s reach extends beyond the clergy; oligarch Samvel Karapetyan, an early defender of the church, was also arrested on charges of inciting a coup after he warned of ‘other methods’ if parliamentary opposition failed to restrain Pashinyan. He faces up to five years in prison and has been detained for over 110 days, with his arrest extended on October 15. While Karapetyan remains incarcerated, Pashinyan has initiated the nationalization process for ‘Electric Networks of Armenia,’ a company owned by the oligarch, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the state’s campaign.