Clergy takes the lead in political protests
A group of protesters rallied from Armenia’s northeastern Tavush province towards the capital, Yerevan, spearheaded by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian. Gastanian is the head of the Apostolic church’s Tavush diocese, the region where Armenia and Azerbaijan started their border demarcation process two weeks ago. As a part of the demarcation process, Armenia is expected to hand <a href=”https://www.europeancorrespondent.com/r/the-first-border-pillar-of-an-undefined-border” style=”text-decoration: underline !important;”>Azerbaijan four villages, which is seen in the country as yet another concession to the neighbouring nation without any guarantees for peace. By the time the rally aimed at denouncing the demarcation process reached Yerevan’s main central square on 9 May, it had become a protest of tens of thousands.
The mass protest, led by the cleric, is likely the largest in the square seen since the 2018 Velvet Revolution and also included various political opposition groups that the archbishop actively consulted during the movement. Initially, the rally was aimed at halting the demarcation process. However, from a hastily erected stage in the Republic Square, the archbishop unexpectedly issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, granting him an hour with an additional 15 minutes to resign. The government did not respond to the request, though the ruling party was quick to point out the movement’s ties with the opposition and Russia.
Backed by the parliamentary opposition, the archbishop announced plans to initiate impeachment proceedings against Pashinyan, a process that the opposition does not have enough votes to proceed with. At the same time, he announced organising civic disobedience across the country.
Since 2020, following the dramatic outcome of the 2020 Karabakh War, opposition factions have organised multiple protests calling for the resignation of Nikol Pashinyan. However, some of the Armenian public became cautious and refrained from backing these movements, viewing them as a power struggle waged by former authoritarian figures. Despite lacking enough popular support or a respected political figure, the country’s opposition, backed by Russia, has been actively searching for alternative avenues. The archbishop, who represents one of the nation’s esteemed institutions and is a well-respected person for many, emerged as an alternative for many to rally behind.
The divide between the government and the church leadership has deepened since Pashinyan took office in 2018, with his policies conflicting with the church’s conservative stance. Despite the church’s considerable influence within the society, many Armenians are hesitant to support this clergy-led ”populist” movement, even if it is a traditionalist one.