BBC South Caucasus correspondent
Getty PicturesA bitter standoff between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church has seen mass arrests, allegations of a coup plot, and a unprecedented supply by Armenia’s chief to disclose his personal elements to show he’s a Christian.
Earlier this week, Pashinyan informed his 1.1 million followers on Fb he was ready to show himself to the top of the Armenian Church and his spokesman, to show they have been fallacious that he had been circumcised.
Social media turned his most popular technique of communication after he got here to workplace after Armenia’s so-called Velvet Revolution of 2018.
Pashinyan faces pivotal elections subsequent 12 months and the Church has develop into a distinguished anti-government voice since Armenia was defeated in a 2020 warfare with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
His extraordinary supply final Monday adopted a Fb put up by a priest within the southwestern city of Masis who alleged Pashinyan had been circumcised, evaluating him to Judas and implying that he was not Christian.
“I imagine that our Apostolic Holy Church should instantly cleanse itself,” mentioned Father Zareh Ashuryan, “of these false ‘believers’ who’ve betrayed the nation, dishonoured the reminiscence of their ancestors, violated the baptism, and changed the seal of the Holy Cross with the signal of circumcision.”
The confrontation between Church and state started on the finish of Might when the prime minister accused the top of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, of breaking his vow of celibacy and fathering a toddler, demanding the church chief’s substitute.
The Church launched a press release accusing Pashinyan of undermining Armenia’s “non secular unity” however didn’t handle the declare concerning the youngster.
Authorities-affiliated media subsequently circulated pictures and names of Karekin II’s alleged daughter, whereas Pashinyan established a “co-ordination group” to organise the election of a brand new Church chief – regardless of constitutional provisions guaranteeing separation of Church and state.
Getty PicturesWhen Karekin II returned from a visit to the UAE final week, a whole lot of supporters gathered at Yerevan airport chanting Vehapar (Pontiff).
He known as for unity and restraint, saying they might “overcome this problem” collectively.
The disaster then escalated on Wednesday, when safety providers detained 16 folks, together with Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a senior cleric who leads the opposition Sacred Wrestle motion. They face allegations of plotting terrorist acts to grab energy.
Among the many others detained are an opposition member, a former MP, a businessman and a blogger.
Armenia’s Investigative Committee alleges the group deliberate to ascertain 250 “assault” teams” of 25 members every to hold out assaults and trigger mass disturbances, and that “a big amount of things and objects supposed for legal exercise” have been discovered in the course of the searches.
The archbishop led main anti-government protests final 12 months and a court docket has now dominated that he ought to spend two months in pre-trial detention. He faces costs of planning terrorism and making an attempt to overthrow the state.
His attorneys have dismissed the allegations as “political persecution”.
The arrests adopted the publication of what government-affiliated media claimed was an in depth opposition coup plan, allegedly involving the Church, not too long ago detained Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, and two former presidents – Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan.
Nikol Pashinyan shared a montage of the pictures of the 4 males and mentioned that the occasion would stay historical past as a “failed revolution of crooks”.
Getty PicturesSamvel Karapetyan, who holds twin Russian and Armenian citizenship, is without doubt one of the richest males in Armenia, with an estimated wealth of $4bn (£2.9bn).
He owns the Tashir Group, identified throughout Russia for its pizza model. It’s a conglomerate that operates actual property in addition to the Electrical Networks of Armenia – a serious vitality distributor within the nation.
Karapetyan, one of the distinguished benefactors of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the recipient of excessive Church awards, was arrested after he made a public video pledging his assist for the Church.
“I’ve at all times stood with the Armenian Church and the Armenian folks. If the politicians don’t succeed, we are going to intervene in our personal approach on this marketing campaign in opposition to the Church,” he warned.
Hours after the assertion, regulation enforcement officers carried out searches in Karapetyan’s mansion, he was arrested and later charged with publicly calling for the seizure of energy.
He has denied all the fees in opposition to him.
Pashinyan’s spokesman prompt that the billionaire had determined to make use of a “traditional guide obtained from the north” – a transparent reference to Russia.
The prime minister later introduced his intention to nationalise Karapetyan’s Electrical Networks of Armenia (ENA) and he informed a cupboard assembly on Thursday the federal government would begin taking management of it.
“We should do that swiftly and successfully,” Pashinyan mentioned.
Following Karapetyan’s arrest big billboards together with his pictures appeared in Moscow – and Russia’s Armenian diaspora expressed assist for the billionaire.
Russian international ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mentioned that Moscow was “carefully monitoring” the scenario round “Russian nationwide Samvel Karapetyan” promising to supply him essential help to make sure that his authorized rights have been revered.
