President of the Union of Armenians of Russia warns Pashinyan against targeting Armenian church

Ara Abrahamyan, President of the Union of Armenians of Russia, has strongly criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s call for his supporters to gather near the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to effectively seize the residence of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

In an interview with TASS on Friday, Abrahamyan warned that it would be a strategic mistake, undermining the Armenian Apostolic Church. “If Pashinyan was truly a believer, he would never allow himself or others to discredit the church. Its clergy have baptized millions of Armenians around the world,” he stated.

Abrahamyan accused the prime minister of manipulating public sentiment and creating dangerous divisions within Armenian society. “You cannot pit people of different religious views against each other. That would be a catastrophe,” he said, emphasizing the church’s role as an independent institution.