Anna Grigoryan, a member of Armenia’s National Assembly from the “Armenia” faction, told reporters in parliament that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is preparing measures targeting the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
“There is a logic to these actions that could seriously endanger the Holy See,” she said, as reported by Aysor.am. “We can see that Nikol Pashinyan is not going to stop. Whether a little earlier or later, he has already planned and will carry out his actions.”
Grigoryan linked the developments to upcoming elections in Etchmiadzin. “Vardan Ghukasyan’s case came first — the Mother See appears to be next. All political forces in Armenia recognize that this attack is going to happen, and we must form a united front to resist it,” she added.
She emphasized that the issue is not personal or solely directed at the Catholicos: “If it were just about the Catholicos, why have three diocesan primates been arrested? No, this is a decapitation of the entire Church institution and leadership.”
On October 15, Armenia’s Investigative Committee, accompanied by the National Security Service, conducted searches at the Aragatsotn Diocese and homes of several clergymen. Dozens were brought in for questioning, including Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan and other diocesan staff. Proshyan was later detained for two months, and Father Garegin Arsenyan for one month. Others were classified as witnesses.
The Investigative Committee charged Bishop Proshyan under two articles of the Criminal Code—abuse of power to obstruct electoral rights and coercion to participate in assemblies using official authority.
