Armenia’s Honorary Consul in Russia Fired After Defending Apostolic Church and Criticizing Government

An Armenian honorary consul based in Russia has reportedly been fired after publicly defending the Armenian Apostolic Church and criticizing the Armenian government’s recent actions against the church leadership.

Narek Spartakian, who had served as Armenia’s honorary consul in Yekaterinburg since 2018, was dismissed earlier this week. His removal followed comments he made expressing strong support for the Armenian Apostolic Church and criticizing the arrest of billionaire businessman Samvel Karapetyan. While Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not officially confirm the dismissal, it also did not deny the report published by the Russian news outlet Ura.ru. 

Spartakian was quoted as saying, “I consider any actions against the Armenian Apostolic Church, an important foundation of the spiritual unity of all Armenians, unacceptable.” He also praised Karapetyan, who had been arrested shortly after speaking out against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s attempts to remove the head of the church, Catholicos Karekin II.

Karapetyan, a well-known businessman who has lived mostly in Russia since the 1990s, was arrested on June 18. He faces several criminal charges, including calls for violent action against the government. He denies the charges and says they are politically driven.

The deputy chairman of Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party, Vahagn Aleksanyan, commented on the situation. He said that an honorary consul should not publicly oppose the decisions of Armenia’s elected government or its law enforcement agencies.

The Armenian government’s conflict with the church has increased in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Pashinyan has accused Catholicos Karekin II of breaking his vow of celibacy by allegedly fathering a child. Many of Pashinyan’s critics, including political opposition and religious figures, believe the accusations are part of an effort to weaken the church, which they see as a key center of resistance to his leadership. Some also suggest that the prime minister is trying to satisfy demands from Azerbaijan during ongoing regional tensions.

In a message to his supporters on July 20, Pashinyan called for action to remove Karekin from the church’s headquarters in Etchmiadzin, part of the town of Vagharshapat. He urged his followers to prepare for a rally in the central square near the church’s Mother See. However, the rally did not take place last week as some media outlets had predicted. No new date for the event has been announced.

The office of Catholicos Karekin II accused the government on July 21 of planning a violent attack against the church’s spiritual center. Opposition groups have also warned of unrest and called on their supporters to be ready to defend the church’s leadership.

While Prime Minister Pashinyan has not made new public statements about the church in recent days, Aleksanyan said the government’s plans to “liberate” the historic church’s headquarters remain unchanged.

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