Armenia to try Catholicos Karekin II and six clerics in church feud escalation

Armenia is due to begin a trial on Friday involving Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and six other clerics. The case will be heard at the Armavir Regional Court in Vagharshapat, a city often described as the spiritual centre of Armenia. Prosecutors say the seven defendants failed to comply with a civil court order linked to the reinstatement of a defrocked bishop.

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The defendants are accused of not reinstating Bishop Gevorg Saroyan after he was defrocked in January. The Church said at the time that Saroyan had abused his authority and neglected his duties. If convicted, each of the seven could face up to two years in prison.

The case is therefore both a criminal proceeding and a test of how far the state can intervene in an internal church dispute. The trial comes amid a long-running feud between Karekin II and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Both men have called for the other to step down, and Pashinyan has accused the Catholicos and the Church of spying for Russia.

He has not provided evidence for that allegation, while the Church has denied wrongdoing. The dispute has also been shaped by the fallout from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which remains central to political tensions in Armenia. The Church has been one of the most prominent critics of Pashinyan over his handling of Nagorno-Karabakh, especially his decision to cede territory to neighbouring Azerbaijan.

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Azerbaijan regained full control of the enclave in 2023, and Karekin blamed Pashinyan for that outcome. The prime minister later accused Karekin of secretly fathering a child and breaking his vow of celibacy, deepening the personal and political nature of the confrontation. The case now places one of Armenia's most influential religious institutions under direct legal pressure.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is a major national institution with deep historical and social influence, and Karekin is its spiritual leader for millions of Armenians worldwide. That makes the trial significant beyond the courtroom, particularly because critics say it reflects a wider crackdown on government opponents. Anna Melikyan, a lawyer with Protection of Rights Without Borders, said the case violated the constitutional independence of the Church and raised concerns about judicial independence in politically sensitive cases.

What remains unclear is how the court will interpret the alleged failure to reinstate Saroyan and whether the defendants will contest the case on constitutional grounds. It is also unclear whether the proceedings will intensify the confrontation between the government and the Church or prompt further public criticism. The trial is set to be closely watched as a measure of both judicial independence and the balance of power between Armenia's political and religious leadership.

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