Armenia bans clergy from prison access

YEREVAN. April 17 (Interfax) - Armenia's Justice Ministry has banned the clergy from visiting prisons, the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, said in a statement on Friday.

"This decision ends the AAC spiritual service at penal institutions," the statement said.

However, by signing job contracts with individual clergymen, the Head of the Penal Service bypassed the Church and disregarded legal norms, it said.

The decision by the Head of the Penal Service of the Justice Ministry was illegal, the Church said. It interferes with the Church's internal life, undermines its organized pastoral service and is yet another manifestation of the authorities' anti-Church policy, it said.

The Armenian parliament adopted earlier an amendment that would deprive the Armenian Apostolic Church of the right to obtain land ownership free of charge.

In December 2025, the Armenian government decided to dissolve and liquidate the Spiritual and Cultural Public Television Company CJSC, which had been airing the Shoghakat TV religious channel in Armenia since 2011.

As reported, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for the abdication of Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II, whom he views as a threat to national security. Pashinyan said recently that the Catholicos of All Armenians had been defrocked, had seized the patriarchal throne, broken his vow of celibacy, and must explain to the public why he has a wife and children.