Armenia's Struggle for Post-Conflict Future Meets Church Resistance
As Armenia approaches its next parliamentary elections, a rift is widening between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government and the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).
The conflict, which began as a quiet tug-of-war over moral authority, has evolved into a political confrontation that threatens Armenia's democracy and peace prospects with Azerbaijan.
Pashinyan, once trusted by the public, now faces an opposition hiding behind the cross, with the Church becoming a vehicle for nationalist and revanchist forces.
The arrest of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the "Holy Struggle" movement, marks a turning point in this escalating conflict.
Author's summary: Armenia's democracy is threatened by Church resistance.