YEREVAN, Armenia (August 22, 2024) – An Armenian archbishop, Pargev Martirosyan, was sentenced to two years in prison today after being convicted of inciting a coup attempt against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, authorities announced. The sentencing comes amid ongoing political turmoil in Armenia following territorial concessions to Azerbaijan and stalled peace negotiations.
The case against Martirosyan, a prominent figure within the Armenian Apostolic Church, centers on allegations that he actively participated in efforts to overthrow Pashinyan’s government. His conviction reflects a broader crackdown on opposition figures critical of Pashinyan’s handling of the long-running conflict with Azerbaijan and the subsequent handover of several border villages in April 2024.This sentencing escalates tensions between the government and segments of the population who view the territorial concessions as a betrayal of national interests.
Demonstrations erupted in April after Armenia agreed to return the villages to Azerbaijan as part of a push to normalize relations.The “Sacred Struggle” movement,which vehemently opposed the handover,has been a focal point of anti-government protests.While the territorial dispute dates back to the early 1990s, following the collapse of the soviet Union and the ensuing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, recent developments have intensified public discontent.
Azerbaijan regained control of significant territories in and around Karabakh in 2020, culminating in a swift military campaign in September 2023 that fully reclaimed the region. Armenia subsequently ceded the border villages. These actions fueled opposition to Pashinyan,who critics accuse of making unacceptable concessions to Azerbaijan.
The arrest of Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan in June, also on charges of attempting to overthrow the government, further underscored the government’s resolve to suppress dissent. Despite a White House summit in August where Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders signed a deal aimed at ending decades of conflict, a formal peace treaty remains unsigned and unratified. The archbishop’s sentencing raises concerns about the future of political freedoms and the stability of Pashinyan’s government as peace talks continue.
