The Government and the Church…A New Reality?

This past week there were two news items out of Armenia that were both unprecedented and worthy of further analysis. First the facts. On Tuesday, April 14, Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, issued a statement calling on the government of Armenia to immediately release former President Robert Kocharyan based on medical risks. Kocharyan is currently in custody pending his trial on charges of breaching Armenia’s Constitution by ordering security forces to fire on crowds in the aftermath of the 2008 presidential election. During that incident, eight civilians and two police officers died. His Holiness based his request on the example of nations releasing at-risk prisoners across the globe to reduce the probability of being infected with COVID-19. He referenced some health concerns of Mr. Kocharyan based on medical opinions. This announcement received wide visibility given public interest surrounding Kocharyan’s charges. It was also viewed in the context of a rare public non-religious statement made by the Vehapar.