Armenia shifts toward EU partnership as EU chief visits and government prosecutes church leader

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to travel to Yerevan next week to meet Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who secured a decisive parliamentary majority in the June 7 election. The visit is aimed at deepening strategic ties between the European Union and Armenia, following Armenia’s recent steps toward a formal EU accession process and a €270 million European investment plan under the Global Gateway programme.

At the same time, the Pashinyan administration has opened criminal proceedings against Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and announced plans to restructure the church’s governance. Officials describe the move as part of a broader reorientation toward Brussels, while critics warn it threatens a centuries‑old institution. The dual push for closer EU integration and tighter state control over the church comes as Armenia navigates a strained relationship with Russia, which still dominates Armenia’s trade and hosts a Russian military base, and contends with regional pressures from Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The developments highlight Armenia’s strategic pivot between its historic Russian alliance and a new Western orientation, raising questions about the future balance of influence in the South Caucasus.