By targeting the Catholicos — cheered by Azerbaijan’s Sheikh al-Islam and Azeri media — Pashinyan appears oblivious to the damage he is inflicting on his own popularity in the 2026 elections, and bolstering Karekin II’s public support. Most Armenians, faced with a showdown between a faltering politician and their spiritual leader, will naturally side with His Holiness. The public will demand the resignation of the Prime Minister, not the Catholicos.
There is no doubt that all clergymen, irrespective of rank, should uphold the highest moral standards of the church, including the vow of celibacy. However, it is equally imperative that the Prime Minister of Armenia respect the Constitution and refrain from intervening in matters beyond his jurisdiction, especially given his own marital status and his inability to manage the affairs of the state.
Azerbaijan has recently moved to strike a peace deal with Armenia after violently recapturing the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. But continued fighting between the two countries might be more likely than peace, and other transnational threats continue to lurk beneath the surface. For one, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev retains visions of territorial expansion through a creeping invasion of Armenia’s southern border. And the tentacles of Azerbaijan’s business dealings should raise alarms throughout the international financial system.
In the exercise of my professional duties as an attorney, I find it necessary to comment on certain legal aspects of the current criminal case, guided solely by the principles of legality and fairness in judicial proceedings.
168.am, in collaboration with the Global Campus of Human Rights (GCHR), has launched a new interview series addressing pressing human rights issues.
And finally, which is no less important, I am grateful to the international Christian solidarity organization to organize a fixed support to the Artsakh issue and to organize this important meeting.
Armenians often lament that they are a divided nation, believing mistakenly that other people are far more united. This perception mirrors families who argue behind closed doors, while assuming that their neighbors live in harmony. It’s a classic case of “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.”
In a rare move, the Republic of Armenia recently hired an American lobbying firm to promote Armenia’s interests in the United States.
Recalls the guaranteed right of return of the ethnic Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh.These steps reflect a genuine commitment to peace, stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus.
Federal Judge Robert Huie had no choice but to dismiss Baghirzade’s lawsuit, stating: “Anything short of dismissal in these circumstances would disserve the interests of justice.”
