Pashinyan accuses Armenian Church of provoking new conflict
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has accused the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church of attempting to revive the so-called Garabagh movement, characterizing these actions as a direct provocation toward war with Azerbaijan.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Armenian media, the Prime Minister made these remarks during a briefing held today. Pashinyan emphasized that such rhetoric undermines the current peace process and contradicts the official state policy of Armenia.
"Clergy have become leaders of the war party"
"Recently, while attending a liturgy, I heard the mention of the so-called 'Artsakh Republic.' What does this mean? It means nothing other than a call for war. Ktrich Nersisyan (the secular name of Karekin II) and other clergy members have taken on the roles of leaders of the 'war party'," Pashinyan stated.
The Prime Minister further asserted that when the head of government declares the Garabagh movement concluded, no other entity has the authority to continue it. "There cannot be multiple foreign policy directions in the country," he noted, stressing the need for a unified diplomatic stance in the post-conflict period following the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
Museum director dismissed over gift to US Vice President
In a related development, Pashinyan confirmed he requested the resignation of Edita Gzoyan, the director of the museum-institute dedicated to the so-called "Armenian genocide." The dismissal followed an incident during the visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance to Armenia on February 10, where Gzoyan presented him with a book regarding the Garabagh issue.
"I considered this an act that contradicts the foreign policy of Armenia. I evaluated it as a provocation and asked her to submit her resignation," Pashinyan emphasized. This move highlights the Prime Minister's efforts to curb nationalist narratives that conflict with the government's stated goal of normalizing relations with its neighbors.
This internal tension comes at a critical time as Azerbaijan and Armenia continue negotiations toward a final peace agreement. The Azerbaijani government has consistently maintained that the Garabagh conflict is resolved and that any attempts to revive the issue within Armenia constitute an interference in Azerbaijan's internal affairs and a threat to regional stability.
