PM

The bitter confrontation between Prime Minister Nicole Pashinian and the Armenian Apostolic Church witnessed collective detention, allegations of a coup plot, and an unusual offer by the leader of Armenia to reveal his own parts to prove that he is Christian.

Earlier this week, Bashinyan told his 1.1 million people on Facebook that he was ready to expose himself to the President and spokesperson for the Armenian Church, to prove that they were wrong in his betrayal.

Social media became his favorite means of communication after he came to his position after the so -called Armenia velvet in 2018.

Bashinyan is facing pivotal elections next year and the church has become a prominent anti -government voice since Armenia was defeated in the 2020 war with neighboring Azerbaijan.

His exceptional offer on Monday followed a Facebook post by a priest in the southwestern town of Masis, and claimed that Pashinian had been betrayed, and Judah was compared and indicated that he was not Christian.

The father, Assyrian, said: “I think that our Holy Holy Church should be cleared immediately, and there are the wrong” believers “who betrayed the nation, conducted the memory of their ancestors, violated baptism, and replaced the seal of the Holy Cross with the sign of circumcision.”

The confrontation between the Church and the state began at the end of May when the Prime Minister accused the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholic Carricin II, of violating his pledge of celibacy and a child, demanding an alternative to the church leader.

The Church issued a statement accusing Pashinian of undermining the “spiritual unity” of Armenia, but it did not address the child’s claim.

After that, the government’s media circulated pictures and the names of the alleged Karekin II daughter, while Pashinyan created a “coordination group” to organize the election of the new church leader-despite the constitutional rulings that guarantee the separation of the church and the state.

When Karekin II returned from a trip to the United Arab Emirates last week, hundreds of supporters gathered at Yerevan Airport Vehapar (pope).

He called for loneliness and self -control, saying that they “will overcome this difficulty” together.

Then the crisis escalated on Wednesday, when the security services detained 16 people, including the head of bishops, Bagrat Galstanyan, a senior cleric leading the opposition holy struggle movement. They face allegations of planning terrorist acts to seize power.

Among the other detained opposition members, a former deputy, a businessman and a blogger.

Armenia’s investigation committee claims that the group planned to establish 250 “group” attacks of 25 members each to carry out attacks and cause mass disturbances, and that “a large amount of elements and things designated for criminal activity” was found during searches.

The head of bishops led the major protests to combat government last year and a court now ruled that he must spend two months before the trial. He faces charges of planning terrorism and trying to topple the country.

His lawyers rejected allegations as “political persecution.”

The arrests have followed the publication of the government’s media outlets as a detailed opposition coup plan, claiming to include the church, which recently detained the Russian billionaire arms Samville Karabtian, two former heads-Robert Kochharian and Sarz Sargean.

Nicole Pashinyan participated in the edge of the four men’s photos and said that the event will remain a history as a “failed revolution for the scammers”.

In a statement, the Republican Party in Sargsian accused the government of using a “law enforcement system to silence political opponents.”

Samville Karabtian, who holds a Russian dual Russian nationality, is one of the richest men in Armenia, with an estimated wealth of $ 4 billion (2.9 billion pounds).

The Tashir Group, known throughout Russia, has its pizza brand. It is a group that manages real estate as well as Armenia’s electrical networks – a major energy distributor in the country.

Karapetyan, one of the most prominent beneficiaries in the Armenian Apostolic Church and received the high church awards, was arrested after he presented a public video pledged to support the Church.

“I have always stood with the Armenian Church and the Armenian people. If the politicians do not succeed, we will interfere in our own way of this campaign against the church.”

Hours after the statement, law enforcement officers conducted searches at the Karapetyan Palace, was arrested and subsequently charged with calling for the seizure of power.

He denied all the charges against him.

Pashinian spokesman suggested that the billionaire decided to use “classic guide received from the north” – in a clear reference to Russia.

The Prime Minister later announced his intention to secure the Caraptian electrical networks in Armenia (ENA), and he told the cabinet meeting on Thursday that the government will start controlling it.

“We must do it quickly and effectively,” Pashinian said.

After the giant advertising boards of Karabtyan appeared with his photos in Moscow – the Russian Armenian diaspora expressed their support for the billionaire.

Maria Zakharova spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow “is closely monitoring” the situation on “Russian national patriotism, Samville Carapentian” promising to provide necessary assistance to ensure respect for his legal rights.