World Council of Churches expresses concern over Armenian Church-state tensions

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has issued a statement expressing concern regarding "undue interference" in the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC). The WCC affirmed the denomination's vital role in Armenian life as the church faces an ongoing standoff with the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which has intensified since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Relations have deteriorated significantly, with supporters of the church claiming that between one-third and half of the denomination's bishops have been arrested. High-profile cases include the 2025 imprisonment of Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan for allegedly inciting a coup. Most recently, the head of the AAC, Karekin II, appeared in court on August 7 alongside six senior clerics. They face potential two-year prison sentences for allegedly defying a court order to reinstate a laicized bishop.

Government officials maintain they are protecting the state from "anti-Christian" and "anti-state" elements, accusing church leadership of supporting the violent overthrow of the government. Critics of the administration, however, have compared the Prime Minister's actions to those of a Soviet-era dictator.