Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: [Prime Minister] Nikol Pashinyan has changed the tactics of the fight against the [Armenian Apostolic] church and the patriarch [i.e. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II].

The open campaign, discrediting and insulting the [Armenian] clergy did not yield results, the patriarch does not resign. Now, he [i.e. Pashinyan] has decided to “dismantle” the [Armenian Apostolic] Church from within.

According to some information, the authorities have started a hunt among the clergy, they are attempting to “dig up” clergy dissatisfied with Karekin II so that they destroy the Mother See [of Holy Etchmiadzin] with their hands.

We were told that they are even attempting to interest, they pledge financial support to all those who, if they go against the Patriarch, may be defrocked. In addition, they [i.e. the Armenian authorities] are attempting to obtain information from the inside about illegal transactions [of the Armenian Apostolic Church].

In parallel, they have instructed law enforcement officers to gather materials against the Catholicos. Pashinyan has not given up on the idea of freeing the Veharan [i.e. the official residence and workplace of the Catholicos of All Armenians] from the [incumbent] patriarch, and recently said in the NA [i.e. the National Assembly] that they will hold a “large event with spiritual content” in the central square of Etchmiadzin, which will be the “culmination” of that process.

“We are now discussing the timeframes, organizational and substantive issues.” There is a view that the [incumbent Authorities’] attack [on the Armenian Apostolic Church] could be carried out next year, on the threshold of the [parliamentary] elections [in Armenia], by which they will either provoke a civil conflict and declare a state of emergency in the country and extend the election period, or by means of a “victory” against the church, they will exert psychological pressure on voters not to participate in the elections and reproduce themselves.