‘Go Back to Your Uncle’s Wife’: PM Pashinyan’s Vulgar Facebook Attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church

On May 30, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a series of strong and controversial statements on Facebook criticizing members of the Armenian Apostolic Church. His remarks, which included personal accusations and calls for government involvement in Church leadership decisions, have sparked widespread debate across Armenia and within the diaspora.

In one of his posts, Pashinyan wrote:

“Bishop, go back to doing what you were doing with your uncle’s wife. What do you want from me?”

Later, he followed up with another post questioning the personal conduct of some members of the clergy:

“And isn’t it necessary to confront the question: how many members of our episcopate have remained faithful to their vow of celibacy?”

Pashinyan’s comments triggered a wave of criticism, particularly because they were seen as deeply disrespectful toward an institution that many Armenians view as central to their national identity.

The Armenian Apostolic Church has historically played a major role in preserving Armenian identity, culture, and religion—especially through periods of hardship such as the genocide, Soviet rule, and the recent conflict over Artsakh.

Prime Minister Pashinyan’s relationship with the Church has long been tense. In his recent posts, he argued that the state should have a larger say in the election of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the spiritual leader of the Church. He wrote:

“The Republic of Armenia must have a decisive voice in the election of the Catholicos… Candidates for Catholicos must undergo an integrity check.”

Under current rules, the Catholicos is elected by the National Ecclesiastical Assembly, a religious body made up of bishops, clergy, and delegates from Church communities in Armenia and the diaspora. Neither the Armenian government nor its parliament currently plays any role in this process.

The Church Responds

Church leaders strongly condemned the Prime Minister’s remarks. Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, released a statement saying:

“The infamous educational campaign is reaching ever-new heights of distorted imagination and vile rhetoric… Yet ahead lies a destructive abyss, where there is ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Many within the Church and among its followers believe the Prime Minister’s words crossed a line and undermined the moral and spiritual role of the clergy.

Political Reactions and Public Debate

Opposition lawmaker Hayk Mamijanyan, leader of the “I Have Honor” faction, described Pashinyan’s remarks as deeply inappropriate:

“Nikol Pashinyan is a political corpse. And when corpses are not removed in time, they start to stink… The Armenian Apostolic Church has seen a thousand ‘Nikols’ in its lifetime, and it will see a thousand more.”

Other political leaders also voiced concern about what they see as a growing divide between the government and the Church. Some critics argue that Pashinyan’s comments echo narratives from abroad, particularly from Azerbaijan, which has previously labeled the Armenian Apostolic Church a “threat to the region.”

Human rights advocates and analysts warn that such rhetoric—whether intended to expose wrongdoing or not—could harm the independence of Armenia’s religious institutions.

Rights advocate Hovhannes Ishkhanyan told The Armenian Report that Azerbaijan has, in recent years, tried to weaken the Armenian Church’s international role—especially in defending Artsakh. The Church was one of the last institutions to publicly support the rights of the people of Artsakh on global platforms.

“The man who once said, ‘Artsakh is Armenia, period,’ and then over three years every day, every second handed it over to Azerbaijan — can he speak about a priest’s deceit?”

Some observers suggest that internal Church debates, including over celibacy or leadership conduct, should be handled by religious institutions—not through social media or government interference.

The Prime Minister’s posts have also raised legal and ethical concerns. Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office clarified that it does not have the authority to investigate ethical violations by public officials. Instead, that responsibility lies with the Corruption Prevention Commission, which monitors the behavior of government figures.

As of now, no formal inquiry into the Prime Minister’s statements has been announced.

Supporters of Pashinyan argue that his comments reflect frustration over long-standing issues within the Church and are part of a push for more transparency and reform. They point to cases where public trust in some clergy has been shaken and believe the state has a right to ask questions when public figures—religious or not—are accused of misconduct.

However, many citizens believe the tone and content of the Prime Minister’s statements were too aggressive and disrespectful. They worry that such attacks risk alienating believers, dividing society, and weakening a key pillar of Armenian culture and resilience.

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