Transformation of power into totalitarian system deprives state of  its content - expert 

ArmInfo.  When power devolves into a totalitarian system, the state loses its purpose. This is how Suren Surenyants, leader of the Democratic Alternative party, commented on the Sunday liturgy held at Hovhannavank Monastery by a defrocked cleric, which took place under the patronage of the current  Armenian authorities, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

As Surenyants emphasized, this de facto sectarian gathering became a  clear indicator of the political behavior of the state authorities,  revealing the essence of the current model: Pashinyan places himself  above the law and institutions. According to him, it is terrifying to  imagine the head of state participating in an illegal gathering,  becoming the "architect" of a dangerous precedent.

"Father Aram Asatryan was declared a deposed priest, and the liturgy  he celebrated was not recognized by the Church. Pashinyan, by his  presence, effectively legitimized this lawlessness, confirming that  political expediency is more important to him than constitutional  order. This behavior once again confirmed the established logic of  the authorities: when an institution does not obey, it is subject to  delegitimization or pressure," Sureniants noted.

As a result, according to the political scientist, Armenian society  is witnessing a process of institutional dismantling, the goal of  which is to establish complete control by the authorities. However,  he noted that despite the use of administrative and propaganda  resources, only a few hundred people at most gathered at  Hovhannavank. According to Sureniants, this is an eloquent indicator  of the authorities' genuine political support. "This means that the  anti-church policy, which they are trying to present as an  ideological trend, lacks public legitimacy. The authorities are  acting without social support or values, relying solely on  administrative pressure and media manipulation. In such a situation,  a reasonable government would abandon its policy, but this is not a  lesson for Pashinyan," Sureniants emphasized.

In this regard, the politician recalled that the Prime Minister had  previously announced a new stage of his political program on his  Facebook page, the essence of which is to establish complete control  over the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, that is, the Armenian  Apostolic Church. Specifically, Sureniants recalled, the Armenian  Prime Minister stated that "the liturgy in Hovhannavank will  symbolize the beginning of the practical stage of liberating the holy  site-the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin."

The politician is confident that the Prime Minister is thus  establishing a sectarian system of power based not on ideas, but on  subordination and control. According to Sureniants, this system is  based on three components: external support-from the West, Turkey,  and Azerbaijan; passive public resistance; and the ruling regime's  constant use of repressive pressure. "A model of power is effectively  being formed that seeks to expand state control to encompass all  spheres of life. If the opposition fails to formulate its asymmetric  countermeasures and fails to increase society's political agency,  then Pashinyan's so-called 'practical stage' could escalate into the  arrest of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and an organized  repressive 'raid' against the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. After  all, when power turns into a totalitarian system, the state loses its  substance," Sureniants concluded.

As a reminder, Stepan Asatryan's interview with Public Television  about being forced to participate in opposition rallies became the  basis for the arrest of Mkrtich Proshyan, head of the Aragatsotn  Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Father Garegin  Arsenyan, abbot of Surb Gevorg Monastery, as well as the detention of  more than a dozen clergy of that diocese. It is noteworthy that  Asatryan spoke about the Catholicos of All Armenians forcing clergy  to attend the rally only after the current government launched an  anti-church campaign. He attributed his silence to the previously  existing "climate of fear" within the church.

On October 21, by decision of the Catholicos of All Armenians, Aram  Asatryan was defrocked. The defrocked cleric, Stepan Asatryan, called  his deposition illegal and declared his intention to continue serving  in Hovhannavank. Justifying his disobedience, he repeated Nikol  Pashinyan's words that "a defrocked Catholicos cannot defrock him,  and that a Catholicos cannot lead a family life and have children."  This statement was supported by the Armenian authorities, led by  Prime Minister Pashinyan. The latter personally participated in the  liturgy celebrated by Stepan Asatryan on October 26 in Hovhannavank.   Moreover, representatives of the ruling Civil Contract party,  ministers, regional governors, community leaders, and officials at  various levels participated in the liturgy. A large police presence  was deployed to the monastery. Furthermore, plainclothes law  enforcement officers prevented parishioners from entering the church  who attempted to protest the illegality of the service. One such  citizen was removed from the monastery using brute force.  Furthermore, some government activists even acted aggressively toward  journalists covering the event on-site.