Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s controversial social media post has sparked concern among both the expert community and political circles. Many interpreted his words as a signal of a possible new intervention by security forces on the territory of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.
“If Ktrich Nersisyan considers the arrest of Vazgen Galstanyan and Gevorg Ajapahyan to be illegal, then he shares the ideology and plans of these individuals to stage a military coup, shoot people at the walls, and create chaos in the country. Moreover, in this case, no territory of the enlarged Vagharshapat community can be off-limits to law enforcement, especially considering that, thanks to Ktrich and several other individuals, these territories are not even off-limits to adultery,” the Prime Minister wrote.
According to political analyst Grant Melik-Shahnazaryan, the Prime Minister is not only violating the presumption of innocence but is also exerting pressure on the Church.
“From the very first days of the Sacred Struggle, it was emphasized that the movement operates independently of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Archbishop Bagrat even suspended his spiritual service so that his actions would not be attributed to the Church. Pashinyan, however, ignores this. Moreover, he conflates two different cases — that of Galstanyan and Ajapahyan — although the latter is accused of completely different acts. In doing so, he deliberately distorts the reality of what is happening,” Melik-Shahnazaryan stated.
“To him, there is no Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin — there is only the enlarged Vagharshapat community. The Prime Minister’s post is a signal to the public about what is going to happen — and for the security forces, it’s a direct order. These orders are now being given openly,” he added.
The opposition bloc “Armenia” is also warning of possible intervention. According to MP Artur Sargsyan, “in the coming days, we should expect a security forces’ intervention in the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.”
“I have never blamed our people. The people are not at fault for anything. The problem is in the leadership. The time will come when new leaders will emerge, and everything will fall into place,” he told journalists outside the building of the Investigative Committee.
Sargsyan also added that the opposition must continue on the path of peaceful resistance:
“We have morality, honor, and dignity. The authorities have only fear. Our path is to unite the people and peacefully remove the regime.”