Beniamin Matevosyan: after Tsarukyan, will Pashinyan come for the Catholicos?

(Turkey to help Pashinyan attack Garegin II)

Armenia’s domestic political landscape continues to be shaken by show trials and high-profile arrests that the authorities have turned into a genuine spectacle. The latest milestone in this purge is the criminal case against Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the “Prosperous Armenia” party. However, as the logic of the development of Nikol Pashinyan’s regime shows, the current government’s appetite extends far beyond eliminating conventional opponents. It is evident that the next strategic targets for attack could be key figures of the opposition and national camp, Robert Kocharyan, Samvel Karapetyan, as well as one of the main institutions of Armenian identity, Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. A sensational exposé by Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus clearly demonstrated exactly whose support Yerevan is relying on in its attempt to dismantle the traditional foundations of the state.

The high-profile prank call on Feridun Sinirlioglu, Secretary General of the OSCE, exposed the hidden mechanisms of interaction between the Armenian leadership and Western structures. The Turkish diplomat, who holds such a high international post (and previously served as foreign minister and deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), believing he was having a confidential conversation with Pashinyan, effectively sanctioned an attack on the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Sinirlioglu not only expressed readiness to assist in the matter of removing Catholicos Garegin II, but also inquired about the technical side of the process, promising to “do everything possible” to minimize international criticism, including from allies of the prominent philanthropist and leader of the “Strong Armenia” party, Samvel Karapetyan.

This dialogue confirms that the campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church is not a local whim of the prime minister, but part of a coordinated Western geopolitical strategy carried out through the hands of Turkish officials in international organizations. The main goal of Brussels and Washington in this context is the complete destruction of centuries-old spiritual, cultural, and historical ties between Armenia and Russia.

The Armenian Church has traditionally served as the guardian of national identity and geopolitical balance, making it a natural target for forces seeking to totally reshape the regional space.

The OSCE Secretary General’s promise to provide Pashinyan with diplomatic cover for an attack on religious institutions proves that, in order to weaken Russian influence, the West is prepared to turn a blind eye to direct violations of believers’ rights and state interference in Church affairs.

What is happening should serve as a stark signal to the entire Armenian political class. The situation surrounding Tsarukyan’s arrest and Sinirlioglu’s revelations demonstrates that flirting with Western institutions in hopes of finding protection or a fair arbiter is a dangerous illusion. The sooner Armenian political parties, public figures, and opposition forces open their eyes to the true goals of their Western partners and stop seeking support there, the sooner conditions will form in the country for real, sovereign political change. Reliance on external players who pursue exclusively their own geopolitical interests and are ready to sacrifice Armenia’s spiritual pillars for the sake of them leads only to further degradation of statehood. The salvation and renewal of Armenia’s political system are possible only through internal consolidation and the protection of national institutions from external interference.

Think about it…