Armenian justice minister says ‘facts’ about Catholicos may be declassified

According to Armenia’s justice minister Srbuhi Galyan, the relevant authorities hold “facts about the Catholicos of All Armenians”. She appeared to refer to unflattering information, although she did not specify anything in her interview with a local TV channel. She said the government “will make them public” if society demands it and if circumstances allow.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan answered Members of Parliament’s questions about his drive to reform the church. He said: “I don’t need a Catholicos who answers to me. I need a Catholicos who does not answer to a senior lieutenant of a foreign intelligence service and who does not report daily to lieutenants of a foreign intelligence service.”

The authorities avoid naming the country in question. Many people in Armenia remain convinced that he meant the Russian security services. At the start of his “movement to renew the church”, Pashinyan also claimed that the Patriarch had broken his vow of celibacy and had a daughter.

Justice minister Galyan says she does not doubt the accuracy of this information, although she “does not possess it herself”. She also said she has no information about claims that Pashinyan asked clergy through National Security Service staff not to mention Garegin II’s name during services he attends. The prime minister admitted to this during his latest briefing.

“If you see a problem, why don’t you send a message, for example, to the Prosecutor General’s Office?” the minister told the journalist. She added that she does not see the prime minister’s request as problematic.

The minister also commented on statements from civil society representatives accusing the government of interfering in church affairs. She said she does not share their assessment of the situation.

NGOs: ‘We are witnessing a blatant violation of the church’s right to autonomy’

Amid rising tensions between the government and the church, civil society groups issued a joint statement. Twelve non-governmental organisations, along with individual rights defenders and experts, say they are alarmed by what they describe as “a blatant violation of the church’s right to autonomy.”

“The executive and legislative authorities in Armenia keep interfering in the autonomy and freedom of the church,” the statement says.

Civil society representatives argue that the situation breaches the constitution and the law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations.” They also warn that it contradicts international standards on freedom of religion.

“The authorities are trying to influence the formation of the church’s governing bodies and its internal decision-making,” the statement notes. “These attempts are unlawful and unacceptable.”

The NGOs say the following practices are unacceptable:

• attempts to arbitrarily alter or edit church traditions and rituals,
• pressure on clergy from law-enforcement bodies, in particular the National Security Service,
• insults directed at clerics and the illegal distribution of personal information through public and private channels.

Rights defenders call on the prime minister to stop any actions that undermine the freedom of the church.

‘No alternative to removing Catholicos of All Armenians,’ politician says

Arman Babadzhanyan, leader of the “For the Republic” party, said that the bishops plan to meet with Garegin II and declare that he can no longer remain on the throne.

Justice minister: ‘We are not interfering in the affairs of the church’

Armenia’s justice minister Srbuhi Galyan said that anyone who violates church canons cannot remain on the throne. She did not comment on what grounds the Catholicos should step down.

She only noted that “questions have emerged in society that remain unanswered” regarding the Patriarch. Galyan is presumably referring to allegations that Garegin II violated the vow of celibacy. When asked what irrefutable facts the authorities possess, she replied:

“I did not personally conduct a DNA test. But I can clearly see the awareness that has emerged in society. At least, that is obvious to me.”

According to the minister, the problems discussed in recent weeks concern not the church as an institution but individual clerics who have violated church law.

“Everything happening today aims to address these specific problems. The government can guide citizens, but the core of all this is the desire of the citizens themselves.”

The minister stressed that she does not share civil society’s view that the state is interfering in church affairs.

“It is not the state. Certain individuals who hold state positions raise questions about specific clerics. Any person, including an official, has the right to voice issues that concern them.”

Galyan also pointed out that some clerics engage in political rather than spiritual activity.

“We have seen how they ‘bless’ opposition politicians. We have also seen how one specific cleric leads the promotion of political ideas,” she said, referring to Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who heads the opposition movement “Sacred Struggle”. “The church must not and cannot take part in an election campaign. This is prohibited. The church must remain outside politics.”

Tensions between Armenian authorities and Church: Pashinyan’s plan to remove Catholicos

The prime minister reportedly proposes appointing a married priest as acting Catholicos and holding elections for a new one.