The Mother See of the Armenian Apostolic Church has strongly condemned what it describes as  “unacceptable provisions” in the ruling Civil Contract’s 2026-2031 policy agenda for Armenia if it wins the June parliamentary election.

Civil Contract, in a statement issued on April 3, announced that it will work to reform the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and will seek the removal of the current head of the church, Catholicos Karekin II.

Etchmiadzin says such an agenda is a clear violation of the constitutional order, the right of the Church to self-government, as well as the fundamental international principles of freedom of conscience and religion.

“The adopted law-breaking style of work is nationally damaging and unacceptable. It contradicts the interests of our people throughout the world, endangers the foundations of the national value system, and undermines spiritual security,” reads Etchmiadzin’s statement rebuking the party’s agenda.

Tensions between Pashinyan’s administration and the church deepened in December 2020, following the Armenian military defeat in Karabakh, when the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia urged Pashinyan to resign.  

While many have criticized Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and his parliamentary majority for meddling in church matters, the party claims it “respects the freedom of religion and religious beliefs of all citizens and reaffirms that the Republic of Armenia is a secular state.”

There are others, however, who have criticized the church for meddling in domestic politics.

Civil Contract argues the church needs to be reformed  to “restore the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia by removing the Church from politics.”