Armenia's Representative of Honor in Ekaterinburg Steps Down
Armenia's Honorary Consul Resigns Amid Church Controversy
Narek Spartakyan, Armenia's honorary consul in Yekaterinburg, has resigned following his public criticism of the Armenian government's actions against the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Spartakyan, who held the position since 2018, openly condemned the government's actions targeting the Church and spoke out against any measures taken against it. His stance on the issue came to light during a series of arrests linked to a crackdown on the Church, notably the arrest of billionaire Samvel Karapetyan.
Karapetyan, the founder and president of the "Tashir" group of companies, criticised Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's efforts to remove the Catholicos Karekin II and other religious leaders. Spartakyan praised Karapetyan and rejected the government's narrative that the charges against him were politically motivated.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed on August 6, 2025, that Spartakyan had been officially relieved of his duties as honorary consul in Yekaterinberg/Sverdlovsk Region, aligning with reports of his dismissal related to his stance on the Church controversy.
Spartakyan's resignation is directly connected to his views defending the Armenian Apostolic Church and criticism of the Armenian government's campaign against it. However, the connection between his resignation and Karapetyan's arrest remains unknown.
A criminal case has been opened against Karapetyan, and he was charged with publicly calling for a coup. He was arrested at his home in Yerevan on June 18 and taken to the Main Directorate for the Fight Against Organized Crime of the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The controversy surrounding the Armenian Apostolic Church and the government's actions against it continue to be a topic of discussion and debate within Armenia and the international community.
[1] DK.RU, "Armenian Billionaire Samvel Karapetyan Arrested on Charges of Calling for Coup," June 18, 2025. [2] Armenpress, "Narek Spartakyan: Any Actions Against the Armenian Apostolic Church are Unacceptable," June 19, 2025. [3] Armenpress, "Foreign Ministry Confirms Removal of Narek Spartakyan as Honorary Consul," August 6, 2025. [4] CivilNet, "Armenia's Honorary Consul in Yekaterinburg Resigns," August 6, 2025. [5] Eurasianet, "Armenia's Honorary Consul in Yekaterinburg Resigns Amid Church Controversy," August 7, 2025.
Spartakyan's resignation as Armenia's honorary consul in Yekaterinburg was due to his opposition towards the Armenian government's actions against the Armenian Apostolic Church, which he deemed unacceptable. The ongoing political controversy surrounding the Church and the government's actions serves as a focus of general-news discussions within Armenia and the international community.
