Armenia's Zartonk National Christian Party has submitted two separate criminal complaints against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, attorney Ara Zohrabyan reported on Facebook.
One complaint concerns abuse of power, while the other alleges obstruction of the right to freedom of conscience and religion.
“The first complaint draws the Prosecutor General’s attention to Prime Minister Pashinyan’s public instructions via his Facebook page, allegedly directed at law enforcement and judiciary bodies to arrest, prosecute, and detain high-ranking clergy including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, and businessman S. Karapetyan.
The party claims that these actions violate the constitutional principle of separation and balance of powers, the rule of law, and the presumption of innocence. They argue that the National Assembly, led by the Civil Contract party, failed its constitutional duty to oversee the executive, instead endorsing policies that disrupt the constitutional order. The assembly's statement allegedly influences judicial decisions by preemptively affirming guilt and the existence of crimes under investigation.
Thus, the state, represented by the Prime Minister and the Civil Contract-dominated Parliament, is seen as exerting undue influence over criminal proceedings and violating judicial independence.
According to the party, these acts constitute offenses under Articles 329 (inciting hatred or hostility) and 420 (overthrowing the constitutional order) of Armenia’s Criminal Code.
The second complaint alleges that Prime Minister Pashinyan acts against several legal norms:
- Article 18 of the Constitution affirms the Armenian Apostolic Church’s exclusive mission in the spiritual life and cultural identity of the Armenian people.
- Article 2(2) of the Law on Relations Between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church recognizes the Church’s self-governance.
- Article 17(1)(b) of the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations prohibits state interference in religious affairs.
The complaint claims Pashinyan exerts ongoing pressure on the Church, infringing on its autonomy. His statements about replacing the Catholicos allegedly interfere with the Church’s internal governance, which, per the Church’s constitution, elects the Catholicos for life through a National Ecclesiastical Assembly.
The party claims this conduct damages both the Catholicos and the Church’s operations, citing repeated disruptions to Church activities due to the Prime Minister’s actions.
These actions, they argue, fall under Articles 209 (obstructing freedom of conscience or religion) and 441 (abuse of official power) of the Criminal Code.
During a press conference, responding to a question on “freeing the Catholicosate,” Pashinyan said it would be done the same way Armenia was freed from Serzh Sargsyan in 2018. He later called on people to prepare for a “Great Spiritual Gathering in Echmiadzin’s central square.”
