Armenian Government Escalates Church Crackdown: Bishop and 10 Priests Arrested in Aragatsotn Raids

Armenia is once again witnessing a dangerous confrontation between its government and the Armenian Apostolic Church — a clash that creates a deep divisions in the nation’s identity and values. On October 15, Armenian authorities carried out coordinated raids across Aragatsotn Province, arresting ten priests and Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese and cousin of Catholicos Garegin Nersisyan.

The Interior Ministry confirmed the arrests but offered no detailed explanation beyond vague accusations of “illegal actions” during recent rallies. The Church, however, described the move as a direct assault on religious freedom and a continuation of the government’s pressure campaign against the clergy.

Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan has now been formally charged, according to his lawyer, Ara Zohrabyan. The charges accuse him of “obstructing or coercing participation in lawful assemblies” and “interfering with electoral rights.” His defense lawyer stated that Bishop Proshyan rejects all accusations as false and politically motivated.

Zohrabyan also noted that investigative actions are currently underway, and the authorities are preparing to request his pre-trial detention. The court is expected to review that request later today.

For months, tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration and the Armenian Apostolic Church have been growing. The Church has long been a moral voice in Armenian society, often reflecting the nation’s pain and hope during times of war, displacement, and national struggle. Yet, under the current government, that voice is being silenced.

The raids in Aragatsotn appear to be part of a broader effort to intimidate clergy who have criticized the government’s handling of national issues, especially after the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh and the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Armenians.

Lawyer Marine Farmanyan stated that the searches were based on a report filed by the NGO Union of Informed Citizens, led by Daniel Ioannisyan. Ioannisyan confirmed to The Armenian Report that his organization had submitted a report to the Prosecutor General’s Office on September 17, after Father Aram, the spiritual leader of Hovhannavank, mentioned during a television interview that “in 2021 there had been pressure within the Armenian Apostolic Church to participate in the pre-election rallies of a political force.”

The NGO later clarified that it did not have further evidence beyond that statement but insisted that the state had an obligation to investigate. This explanation, however, raises more questions than it answers. Why did the authorities act so swiftly and aggressively, launching simultaneous raids and detaining high-ranking clergy based on a single unverified claim from weeks earlier?

The Armenian Apostolic Church is not merely a religious institution — it is the core of Armenian cultural and spiritual identity. For centuries, it has survived invasions, genocide, and foreign rule, preserving the nation’s soul when political leaders failed to do so. Today, however, the government appears determined to weaken that institution by treating its clergy as enemies of the state.

In May, the government’s conflict with the Church intensified when Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan became the symbolic leader of a nationwide protest movement demanding Pashinyan’s resignation. The rallies, which drew massive crowds across the country, showed growing frustration with the government’s perceived betrayal of national interests and the loss of Armenian territories. The movement was eventually suppressed, its organizers detained, and its momentum deliberately broken.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has condemned the actions of Armenian law enforcement, calling them illegal and a clear violation of religious freedom. In a statement, the Church said that the authorities are “grossly violating the right to religious freedom, offending the faith of believers, and spreading hatred that deepens divisions within society.”

According to the statement, those detained include Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan of the Aragatsotn Diocese; twelve priests — Father Paren Arakelyan, Father Hayk Kocharyan, Father Mkrtich Yeranyan, Father Manuk Zeynalyan, Father Ghevond Gapoyan, Father Hayk Sahakyan, Father Sargis Sargsyan, Father Garegin Arsenyan, Father Narek Sargsyan, Father Oshin Hayrapetyan, Father Vrtanes Baghalyan, and Father Hambardzum Danielyan — as well as the diocese’s accountant, treasurer, and administrator.

The Church reported that for several hours, the whereabouts of Bishop Proshyan and six of the priests were kept secret, and they were denied access to legal assistance. The statement added that the raids have severely disrupted the diocese’s religious and community life, interrupting liturgical services and pastoral duties.

Etchmiadzin described the government’s actions as “a deliberate attempt to paralyze the normal functioning of the Church, damage its reputation, and spread fear among clergy, believers, and society.” The Mother See urged both priests and faithful not to fall for provocations and to “remain firm in defending the Church.” It ended by offering prayers for peace in Armenia and the safety of its people.

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