Pashinyan’s Attacks on the Church Risk Instigating Civil War in Armenia
To show that Pashinyan is violating Armenia's Constitution, let us review Articles 17 and 18. Article 17 mandates church-state separation: “Religious organizations shall be separate from the State.” Most people misinterpret this provision thinking that the clergy have no right to be involved in political affairs. That is not correct. As Armenian citizens, the clergy enjoy the same rights and obligations as all other citizens of the country, such as voting and participating in political matters. The state may intervene only if laws are violated.
