What’s Really Going On Between the Armenian Government and the Church — And Why Tucker Carlson Is Getting It Wrong…As Usual
Over the past few months, Armenia has been pulled into an intense controversy involving the government and leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Some commentators — especially abroad — have tried to frame this as a full-blown “war on Christianity.” And one of the loudest voices pushing that angle is Tucker Carlson.
But here’s the simple truth: that framing is intellectually dishonest. It cherry-picks facts, ignores context, and whips up outrage for an American audience that doesn’t know the internal dynamics of Armenia.
Let’s break down what’s actually happening.
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A Deep, Complicated History — Not a Religious Crackdown
The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the oldest Christian institutions on earth. It has guided Armenians through centuries of foreign rule, genocide, and national trauma. Naturally, it still carries enormous respect.
But it has also long been involved in politics, and its current top leadership has close ties to Russian political interests. That’s important, because Armenia’s government — since the 2018 revolution — has tried to reduce Russian influence and strengthen civilian governance.
That effort alone created friction.
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The Arrests Were Political, Not Religious
The recent controversy centers on two archbishops who were arrested — not for preaching, not for practicing Christianity, and not for challenging the faith — but for allegedly engaging in political activity that crossed into calls for a coup and even violence.
Leaked audio recordings show one archbishop discussing plans that authorities interpreted as encouraging assassinations or violent intimidation. The opposition did not deny the recordings — only insisted they were “out of context.”
No other clergy have been targeted.
Worship has not been restricted.
Churches remain open and fully active.
This is not religious persecution.
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So Why Are Pundits Calling It That?
This is where the foreign commentary comes in — particularly Tucker Carlson’s coverage. Instead of presenting the full picture, Carlson stripped away all context and repackaged the story as an emotional narrative: Christian clergy jailed by an anti-Christian government.
It’s a powerful narrative, but it’s not true. And Armenian analysts have pointed out that this framing mirrors the same Russian disinformation themes that aim to destabilize Armenia internally:
• Painting the government as anti-Christian
• Claiming Armenia is being “Islamized”
• Portraying the Church as the last defender of Armenian identity
• Casting political arrests as spiritual persecution
These narratives serve a purpose: they divide Armenians, undermine trust in democratic institutions, and make the country more vulnerable to outside manipulation.
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Religious Freedom in Armenia Is Not Under Attack
Despite the noise, Armenia still enjoys:
• Free worship
• Open churches
• Active clergy
• Constitutionally protected religious freedom
The government’s dispute is with specific individuals, not with Christianity.
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The Real Struggle Is About Sovereignty, Not Religion
At the heart of this controversy is a larger fight over Armenia’s future:
• How much influence should Russia have?
• Should religious leaders wield political power?
• Who gets to shape Armenia’s direction — elected officials or unelected networks tied to foreign interests?
This is a political struggle, not an attack on the Christian faith.
And when outsiders like Tucker Carlson present this as a religious war, they aren’t helping Armenia. They’re deepening the divide at a moment when the country is already fragile.
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Final Takeaway
Armenia is not persecuting Christians. That claim is misleading, inflammatory, and rooted in geopolitics, not facts.
The real story is about power, influence, and Armenia’s struggle to chart its own future. Recognizing that reality is the first step toward understanding what’s truly unfolding in the world’s first Christian nation.
