CONDEMNING STATEMENT ON THE ATTITUDE EXPRESSED BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE RA, NIKOL PASHINYAN, TOWARDS THE CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIA AND OTHER HIGH-RANKING CLERGYMEN 13․06․2025
“The A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Centre” NGO strongly condemns the attitude displayed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, towards the Catholicos of All Armenians and the high-ranking clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church on social media since May 29 of this year.
The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is recognized in the Republic of Armenia as the national church (Article 18 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia), which carries out its exclusive mission in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, ensuring cultural development and preserving national identity.
In the Republic of Armenia, the church is separated from the state, and in their relations with each other, the state and the church mutually bear the obligation not to interfere in each other’s governance and activities (Article 17 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations”). The Republic of Armenia recognizes the self-government of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church within the boundaries of its hierarchy (Article 2, Part 2 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church”).
However, for days now, the names used in the posts made by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia on social media, the vocabulary and speech not only violate the balance of relations between the state and the church, but also tarnish the exemplary image of the official himself, who exercises state governance.
Persons holding public office are obliged to maintain a sober awareness of serving the public, to show a polite attitude towards all those with whom they come into contact while exercising their powers, and to demonstrate behavior befitting their position (Articles 22 and 25 of the RA Law “On Public Service”).
The modern legal consciousness and spiritual development of Armenian society require that every act that contradicts the law or church orders be properly assessed exclusively by competent bodies in accordance with the rules and principles of their examination.
Therefore, in the Republic of Armenia, which is a legal and democratic state, freedom of expression cannot take precedence over state security, morality, personal dignity, honor, good reputation or other fundamental rights and freedoms.
Thus, based on the above, we express the hope that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and people holding public office in the Republic of Armenia will respect the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia, will stop actions that polarize society, will be guided by the principle of inviolability of human dignity and will perform only such actions for which they are authorized by the Constitution or laws.
“The A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Centre” Non-Governmental Organization
13․06․2025
Photo: R. Avagyan