Attorney Aram Vardevanyan, who represents businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, addressed the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C., where he stressed the historical role and enduring significance of the Armenian Apostolic Church since Armenia’s adoption of Christianity in 301 AD.
Vardevanyan stated that since the spring of 2025, Armenia’s top officials have called for the resignation of the Catholicos of All Armenians, a move he likened to “a Catholic country’s leader demanding the Pope’s resignation,” as reported by Panorama.am .
He outlined the Church’s role as a unifying force for Armenians both in Armenia and the diaspora, particularly during times of hardship, even when the country lacked sovereignty. He noted that:
- Christian heritage sites in Artsakh have been vandalized following the 2020 war and the forced displacement of over 120,000 Armenians.
- At least 19 Christian Armenians remain political prisoners in Azerbaijan, with former U.S. President Donald Trump having publicly supported their release.
- The Armenian Apostolic Church is now facing unprecedented interference not from foreign powers, but from its own government.
Vardevanyan revealed that:
- Four bishops of the Church remain in pre-trial detention.
- Six archbishops face criminal charges with restrictions on their movement.
- The accusations, he argued, violate due process and legal guarantees.
He recalled that Samvel Karapetyan, the Church’s largest donor, was arrested just hours after publicly declaring his continued support for the Church, saying he would defend it “in our way.” His home was searched and he was detained on charges of incitement to seize power. He has now spent over 200 days in pre-trial detention in conditions Vardevanyan described as “harsh,” specifically referencing a facility known as “the KGB basement.”
“This is not pre-trial detention. It is punishment,” he said, describing both Karapetyan and the detained church leaders as political prisoners in their own country.
“In 15 years of legal practice, I’ve never witnessed such blatant violations of religious freedom,” he continued. Citing a statement by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance that democracies must “live” by their values, not just speak about them, Vardevanyan urged action over words.
“I pray that we protect religious freedom not only in speech, but in action. I pray for the freedom of all those unjustly detained and persecuted, both in my beautiful homeland and abroad. Thank you, and may God protect you all,” he concluded.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and a group of bishops and archbishops who support reforms in the Church have issued a joint statement calling for the resignation of the current Catholicos and the implementation of structural reforms. The statement, read publicly by Pashinyan on Facebook Live, outlines a roadmap including: the removal of the de facto head of the Church, election of an interim Catholicos, adoption of a new Church statute, and the election of a new Catholicos, all coordinated by a newly formed council requiring unanimous decisions for any new members.
