Armenian Parliament Erupts in Uproar Over Mention of Church Leader

On August 12, tensions flared during a session of Armenia's National Assembly when Kristine Vardanyan, a lawmaker from the opposition "Armenia" alliance, took the podium. The catalyst for the unrest was her reference to Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians and head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which immediately drew the ire of the ruling party.

Uproar and Applause in Parliament

As Vardanyan mentioned ongoing discussions involving the Catholicos, members of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's ruling "Civil Contract" faction began loudly and demonstratively banging on their desks. Initially responding with a sarcastic "Bravo," Vardanyan noticed the disruption continued every time she said the spiritual leader's name. In defiance, she deliberately repeated it several times.

"Very well, let's play this game," Vardanyan remarked, as reported by News.mail.ru.

In retaliation to the ruling party's desk-banging, opposition MPs erupted into applause, creating a chaotic scene. Ruben Rubinyan, the vice-speaker presiding over the session, was forced to intervene and demand order. Following the incident, Vardanyan dismissed the ruling party's behavior as "just another kindergarten preparatory course," according to a report by Life.ru.

The Broader Context of Church-State Tensions

This parliamentary clash is not an isolated event; it unfolds against a backdrop of deep, ongoing friction between Nikol Pashinyan's government and the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The dispute has recently escalated into the legal arena, with unprecedented court proceedings now on the horizon.

• For the first time, Catholicos Karekin II and six members of the Supreme Spiritual Council are set to face trial.
• The legal case stems from allegations of obstructing the execution of a court ruling regarding a labor dispute with a former clergyman, Arman Saroyan.