In the latest episode of CivilNet Weekly, hosts Stella Meghrabyekyan and Arshaluis Mgdesyan examined the Armenian government’s confrontation with the Church, calling the recent arrest of 13 clergymen from the Aragatsotn Diocese a turning point that “bears the hallmarks of a totalitarian regime.”
Mgdesyan argued that the authorities’ ultimate goal is the removal of Catholicos Garegin II, describing the campaign as a political struggle ahead of next year’s elections.
“Prime Minister Pashinyan is attacking on all fronts,” he said, “targeting institutions – including the Church – that can complicate his re-election.”
The hosts noted that the government’s approach combines discursive pressure and judicial leverage, while civil society remains “confused and divided.”
According to the discussion, the crackdown reflects a broader attempt to ensure loyalty among the clergy rather than reform the Church itself.
Meghrabyekyan added that public reaction is muted: “Authorities sense neutrality or apathy – they don’t feel strong resistance.”
The program also touched on the role of NGOs and human-rights defenders, after revelations that a prominent civic activist’s complaint helped trigger the clergy arrests.
The hosts said this exposed long-standing fragmentation within Armenia’s civil sector, where organizations are now informally aligned either with the government or the opposition.
Mgdesyan concluded that Armenian civil society “still faces a long road to maturity,” citing problems of internal democracy and dependence on foreign grants.
