Rector of the Armenian Academy of Advocacy Ara Zohrabyan has filed a complaint with the Corruption Prevention Commission against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accusing him of attempting to interfere with the self-governance of the Armenian Apostolic Church and displaying “unchecked language and discriminatory conduct” toward clergy. Zohrabyan announced the move via his Facebook page.

He expects the Commission to initiate proceedings and issue a conclusion.

“Nikol Pashinyan, as Prime Minister, is obliged to follow the principles of conduct set by the Public Service Law: (1) commitment to serving the public, (2) loyalty to the public interest, (3) politeness and respectfulness, (4) integrity, and (5) objectivity.

Despite his duty to remain polite, considerate, and restrained under all circumstances, Pashinyan, through his coarse language and discriminatory tone, has violated the dignity of senior clergy, notably the Catholicos of All Armenians and Bishop Mikael Ajapahyan. He is also attempting to interfere in the autonomous governance of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.

According to Article 2, Clause 2 of the Law on Relations Between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, the state recognizes the Church’s self-governance within its jurisdiction.

This and other violations are the basis of the complaint submitted to the Corruption Prevention Commission, from which a ruling is expected regarding a breach of conduct by Prime Minister Pashinyan,” the statement reads.

*The dispute follows criticism from clergy over Pashinyan’s recent comments likening churches to storage sheds. In response, the Prime Minister made a series of controversial Facebook posts targeting church leaders, echoed by similar posts from his wife, Anna Hakobyan.

Pashinyan also said that the state should play a decisive role in electing the Catholicos and questioned whether Garegin II had upheld his vow of celibacy.

He wrote: “If it turns out that Karekin II has broken his celibacy vow and has a child, he cannot remain Catholicos of All Armenians, as he would no longer qualify as a celibate priest.”

The Mother See responded that such attacks serve the interests of foreign anti-Armenian forces and align with slander and false accusations promoted by Azerbaijani propaganda.*