Consolidation of the Opposition is Necessary for the Protection of the Church and Constitutional Values: Surenyants

Consolidation of the opposition is essential for the agenda of protecting the Church and preserving constitutional values. This was stated by political scientist Suren Surenyants.

“Today, Nikol Pashinyan publicly declared: ‘My positions regarding the Church have not changed and cannot change. Kitrich Nersisyan must leave the council.’ This is a direct unconstitutional approach; the state and the Church are separated in Armenia, and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is recognized by the Constitution as the national church, with its unique mission. The Prime Minister's interference in ecclesiastical governance undermines these principles and endangers the boundary between state and spiritual institutions,” Surenyants emphasized.

At the same time, Pashinyan announced a rally scheduled in Vagharshapat. It cannot be overlooked that the same city is set to hold extraordinary municipal elections on November 16. This gives rise to the assumption that the peak of anti-Church sentiment in October-November could also be utilized as an electoral technology for the mobilization of administrative resources. Of course, this is a hypothesis, but it fits well within the logic of the current government's known practices.

Given these circumstances, it is more important than ever for the opposition to participate consolidated in the Vagharshapat elections. This is not only a local political process but also a nationwide issue focused on protecting the Church and preserving constitutional values,” wrote political scientist Suren Surenyants.