Analyst: Pashinyan`s campaign against  AAC strengthened   Church-people bond   

ArmInfo. To the extent that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's anti-Church campaign has  created a dangerous challenger in the relationship between the  Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) and the government, it has also had a  positive impact on the bond between the Church and the people.  Analyst Tigran Dumikyan wrote  on his Facebook page.

He called Pashinyan's anti-Church campaign and the series of events  that occurred as part of it, including the incursion of security  forces into the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, ideologically  inconsistent. The expert argued these convictions by citing the fact  that broad sections of society in the country quickly realized the  true nature of this process, finding it unacceptable and troubling.

As evidence for his claims, Dumikyan cited the results of a 2025 poll  by the International Republican Institute (IRI). The poll showed that   58% of citizens expressed satisfaction with the activities of the  Armenian Apostolic Church, a 10 percentage point increase from the  previous year. "The same study emphasizes that Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan's campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church failed to  garner public support. It should also be noted that, according to IRI  data, 54% of Armenians aged 18 to 35 and 52% of middle-aged citizens  believe that the country's development is heading in the wrong  direction," the analyst mentioned.

Dumikyan also acknowledged that some high-ranking clergy members,  whose names had previously surfaced in scandals, initially made  contradictory statements and then met with the Prime Minister in the  government building to express solidarity with Pashinyan. "It's  interesting that these clergy, whom the Prime Minister called  'healthy forces,' not only betrayed the principles of spiritual unity  with their actions but also made no mention of the need to release  imprisoned clergy," the expert added.

In this regard, he reiterated that issues of church health and  internal discipline must be addressed within the Armenian Apostolic  Church itself, within the framework of canonical law and order,  rather than through political pressure from the state. "The  anti-church campaign initiated by Pashinyan has, in a very short  time, completely exposed both the authorities' true goals and the  motives of some influential clergy.  Additionally, it has  demonstrated the resistance and persistence of broad segments of  society in defending national and spiritual identity," the analyst  believes.  He also noted that the ordeal is not over yet and  will  receive new impetus in the near future. "However, regardless of the  direction it takes, the small group in power and the clergy  associated with it have already suffered a defeat in the context of  public trust," Dumikyan concluded.