https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250728/french-lawyer-crackdown-on-armenian-church-echoes-ukraineerasing-core-identity-1076331487.html
French Lawyer: Crackdown on Armenian Church Echoes Ukraine—Erasing Core Identity?
French Lawyer: Crackdown on Armenian Church Echoes Ukraine—Erasing Core Identity?
Sputnik Africa
The main enemy of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is the Church, says Arnaud Develay, a French lawyer and international law expert. 28.07.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-07-28T17:39+0200
2025-07-28T17:39+0200
2025-07-31T17:42+0200
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nikol pashinyan
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“Recent American statements about the so-called Zangezur Corridor indicate that NATO is seeking a foothold in the region—and apparently, that’s exactly what has happened,” he told Sputnik. To consolidate power, Pashinyan is undermining the church’s authority by proposing, for the first time in over 2,000 years, to overhaul how Apostolic prelates are appointed—something Develay called a direct attack on Armenia’s cultural DNA. He believes Pashinyan seeks to eliminate internal opposition by casting doubt on the Church’s patriotism and loyalty to the Armenian state, portraying clergy as foreign agents. The tactic, he argued, is already being used against pro-church businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who was detained for two months while being probed for alleged insurrection. He warned that the Apostolic Church forms the core of Armenian identity and sovereignty. Undermining it is a calculated step toward weakening the nation itself—similar to what happened in Ukraine, where foreign intelligence services engineered a split in the Orthodox Church, banned the Moscow Patriarchate, blocked access to holy sites and even jailed priests, Develay noted.
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nikol pashinyan, armenia, france, russia, north atlantic treaty organization (nato), africa insight
nikol pashinyan, armenia, france, russia, north atlantic treaty organization (nato), africa insight
French Lawyer: Crackdown on Armenian Church Echoes Ukraine—Erasing Core Identity?
17:39 28.07.2025 (Updated: 17:42 31.07.2025) The main enemy of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is the Church, says Arnaud Develay, a French lawyer and international law expert.
“Because the Church understands that an alliance or pivot toward the West contradicts Armenia’s natural alliances—for example, with Orthodox Russia,” Develay explained.
“Recent American statements about the so-called Zangezur Corridor indicate that NATO is seeking a foothold in the region—and apparently, that’s exactly what has happened,” he told Sputnik.
To consolidate power, Pashinyan is undermining the church’s authority by proposing, for the first time in over 2,000 years, to overhaul how Apostolic prelates are appointed—something Develay called a direct attack on Armenia’s cultural DNA.
He believes Pashinyan seeks to eliminate internal opposition by casting doubt on the Church’s patriotism and loyalty to the Armenian state, portraying clergy as foreign agents.
The tactic, he argued, is already being used against pro-church businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who was detained for two months while being probed for alleged insurrection.
“This is a political case—we are not in the legal field—and until the very end, it will be difficult to understand what exactly he is being accused of,” said Develay.
He warned that the Apostolic Church forms the core of Armenian identity and sovereignty. Undermining it is a calculated step toward weakening the nation itself—similar to what happened in Ukraine, where foreign intelligence services engineered a split in the Orthodox Church, banned the Moscow Patriarchate, blocked access to holy sites and even jailed priests, Develay noted.
