Armenia’s Prime Minister Receives Recognition Amidst Controversy at Inaugural Prayer Breakfast
YEREVAN, Armenia — In a gathering that marked a significant moment in Armenia’s spiritual and political landscape, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was lauded by international Evangelical leaders despite facing criticism from human rights organizations over his administration’s treatment of senior clergy. The Republic of Armenia Prayer Breakfast, a first for the nation, served as the backdrop for this complex interplay of praise and protest.
Having ascended to power during a period of anti-government demonstrations in 2018, Pashinyan emphasized the importance of 2025 for Armenia, which saw the signing of a peace agreement with Azerbaijan on August 8. This milestone, according to Pashinyan, came after his engagement at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington earlier in the year, underscoring a spiritually significant timing for the nation.
Highlighting the event’s religious undertones, Pashinyan recited Psalm 32:1, reflecting on the intertwined relationship between faith and governance. Jim Garlow, a renowned pastor and author, commended Pashinyan for memorizing and delivering an entire chapter from the Bible, describing the act as “powerful” in a Facebook post. “I have been with 13 Heads of State over the past few years, but this is the FIRST time I have ever heard a Head of State quote by memory an entire chapter of the Bible,” noted Garlow.
The event, attended by diverse religious figures, including World Evangelical Alliance General Secretary Rev. Botrus Mansour and UK-based Mervin Thomas, aimed to foster reconciliation and dialogue. The gathering also featured U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom chair Vicky Hartzler and vice chair Asif Mahmood among its 300 guests.
Organizers clarified that the prayer breakfast was a civil society initiative, not a government event, intended to promote unity through Armenia’s Christian heritage. However, Pashinyan’s appearance drew criticism due to ongoing tensions with the Armenian Apostolic Church, exacerbated by the arrests of several archbishops on charges related to coup attempts.
In September, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan received a two-year prison sentence for allegedly inciting government overthrow, following the earlier detention of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and others. Recent arrests include Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan and 12 clergy members, with charges ranging from electoral rights obstruction to large-scale theft.
Christian Solidarity International, a Switzerland-based advocacy group, condemned the Armenian government’s refusal to allow visits to detained church leaders. The organization’s Director of Public Advocacy, Joel Veldkamp, expressed concerns over the political motivations behind these arrests, highlighting the lack of evidence presented against the church’s alleged ties to Russia.
Amidst these controversies, Dr. Asif Mahmood, a long-time ally of Armenia, voiced his concern over the clergy’s arrests, interpreting them as an encroachment on religious freedom. “When I heard that clergy had been arrested, the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind, especially people like me who are working day-in-and-day-out on religious freedom, that this is an encroachment of the Church and their voice has been shut,” Mahmood commented.
The absence of representatives from Armenia’s national church at the prayer breakfast was noted by Dr. John Eibner of Christian Solidarity International, who criticized the government’s actions as an attack on religious freedom. Veldkamp echoed these sentiments, pointing to the arrest of Samvel Karapetyan, a businessman and church supporter, as a consequence of exercising free speech.
While Pashinyan’s leadership continues to face scrutiny, the prayer breakfast highlighted Armenia’s ongoing struggle to balance religious freedoms with political stability. As advocates like Mahmood emphasize the importance of religious freedom, the event served as a reminder of Armenia’s unique position as the world’s oldest Christian nation.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
