DISINFO: The West advised Pashinyan to destroy Christianity as much as possible
SUMMARY
The Armenian people will not let Western values trample on their faith.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan needs to do what he was advised to do - destroy Christianity as much as possible. Just as Zelenskyy did, he destroyed Orthodoxy in Ukraine. Now, Pashinyan has taken this path. Armenians will stand up for their faith. Thus, it is unlikely that Pashinyan will be able to implement the task that his curators have offered him. A void of spirituality, morals, and national autonomy.
Everything is in the hands of the Armenian people. Will they agree with the ideas of the West, led by Pashinyan, or will they defend their country from destruction?
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West, portraying it as an enemy of Christianity and traditional values. This narrative is part of a wider campaign aiming to portray Russia as the only defender of traditional Christian values, to depict the West as depraved, sinful, and a threat to the world’s Christian heritage, and weaken Armenia's ties with the EU.
The claim appeared after a series of arrests of prominent clerics ordered by the Armenian government to prevent what it denounces as a coup plot, which this disinformation story aims to exploit for destabilisation purposes.
The conflict between the government of Armenia and the Church is primarily political, not a crusade against cultural and spiritual plurality. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s criticism of the Church follows the Church’s vocal opposition to his policies, especially after Armenia’s defeat in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The Church has openly criticised Pashinyan and aligned with opposition factions, making the conflict more about political power and accountability than an attack on cultural diversity.
The claim that the Western world is trying to destroy Christianity is unsubstantiated. The Western world has no hostile policy towards Christianity or any other religion. Religious rights are legally protected in Western Europe and in many other parts of the modern world.
Armenia remains a predominantly Christian country, with freedom of religion protected by its constitution. Pashinyan himself is a practising Christian.
The comparison to Ukraine is also inaccurate, as Ukraine maintains religious freedom and has not 'destroyed Orthodoxy.' The claim misrepresents both the situations in Armenia and Ukraine and attempts to create a false narrative of religious persecution where none exists.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that the pro-Western Armenian government declared a crusade against the Church, that the EU wants to use Armenia as a geopolitical tool, that the West wants to sacrifice Armenia to weaken Russia or that the West wants to transform Armenia in a "new Ukraine" or an "anti-Russia".