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 an all-out political confrontation, threatening the stability of Armenia's fragile democracy and its prospects for peace with Azerbaijan.
Pashinyan, once seen as the only trusted political figure, now faces an opposition that hides 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.
The Church, long regarded as the moral compass of the Armenian nation, has become the new opposition force.
Author's summary: Armenia's government faces resistance from the Church.