Political Tensions Escalate in Armenia with Lawmakers and Church Figures at Odds

A physical altercation erupted in Armenia's National Assembly on July 8, 2025, following a speech by opposition lawmaker Artur Sargsyan, who criticized the government and denied allegations of plotting a coup. The incident underscores escalating tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's administration and opposition factions, including the Armenian Apostolic Church.

During the parliamentary session, Sargsyan, representing the opposition bloc Armenia, delivered a speech condemning the government's actions and asserting that the case against him had been predetermined. As he attempted to leave the chamber, other lawmakers intervened, leading to a physical confrontation. Security personnel intervened to separate the involved parties. Subsequently, the National Assembly voted to strip Sargsyan of his parliamentary immunity, enabling legal proceedings against him. He later surrendered to the Investigative Committee, which has accused him and 15 others of conspiring to overthrow the government.

The government's crackdown has extended beyond the legislature. On June 25, 2025, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a prominent leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church and head of the opposition group Sacred Struggle, was arrested on charges of plotting a coup. Authorities allege that Galstanyan and his associates planned to carry out bombings and arson to disrupt power supplies and stage accidents on major roads to paralyze traffic. Galstanyan has denied these allegations, calling them politically motivated.

Shortly after, on June 27, security forces attempted to detain Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, another vocal critic of Pashinyan, at the church's headquarters in Etchmiadzin. Supporters obstructed the arrest, leading to a standoff. Ajapahyan later voluntarily appeared before the Investigative Committee and was charged with advocating for the armed overthrow of the government, charges he also denies.

The crackdown has also targeted business figures. Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, owner of the Tashir Group and Electric Networks of Armenia, was arrested on June 18 for allegedly making public calls to usurp power. Karapetyan had publicly defended the Armenian Apostolic Church, stating that "political leaders fail, we will intervene in our own way" after the government accused Catholicos Karekin II of violating his celibacy vows. Prime Minister Pashinyan suggested that Karapetyan's actions were part of a "hybrid operation" orchestrated by the Russian government against Armenia.

These developments occur against a backdrop of heightened political unrest. The loss of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan in 2023 has been a significant blow to national pride, leading to domestic unrest and criticism of Pashinyan's leadership. His subsequent territorial concessions and efforts to align Armenia more closely with Western nations have been met with resistance from pro-Russian factions and traditionalists within the country.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, a cornerstone of national identity, has found itself at odds with the government. In June 2025, Pashinyan accused Catholicos Karekin II of personal misconduct and called for his resignation, further straining church-state relations. The church's involvement in opposition movements, such as Sacred Struggle, highlights the complex interplay between religion and politics in Armenia.

The government's actions have sparked widespread protests and raised concerns about authoritarian tendencies within Pashinyan's administration. Opposition leaders and supporters view the arrests and charges as politically motivated attempts to suppress dissent. The situation has also attracted international attention, with Russia expressing interest in maintaining law and order in Armenia while emphasizing that the situation is an internal matter.

As Armenia navigates these turbulent times, the path to national unity and stability remains uncertain. The deepening rift between the government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, coupled with geopolitical challenges, underscores the complexities facing the nation.