Russia’s SVR warns of EU’s attempts to squeeze Russian Orthodox Church out of Armenia

Russia's SVR, its foreign intelligence service, has issued a stark warning, claiming the European Union is demanding Armenia sever all religious and spiritual ties with Moscow as a prerequisite for deeper integration. This explicit ultimatum, if true, signals a dramatic escalation in the ongoing geopolitical tug-of-war for influence over the South Caucasus nation, leveraging faith as a wedge issue. This alleged EU demand comes as Armenia continues its strategic pivot towards the West, a trajectory accelerated by deep disillusionment with Moscow following the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh crisis. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan government has steadily distanced itself from the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, intensified security cooperation with France and the US, and is actively pursuing closer ties with Brussels through initiatives like the Eastern Partnership. The Russian Orthodox Church, a traditional pillar of Moscow's soft power, is now at the heart of this struggle, directly challenging the deeply rooted Armenian Apostolic Church and its independent spiritual heritage. The SVR public warning injects new volatility into Armenia delicate balancing act, forcing Yerevan to confront the political and societal ramifications of disentangling from a centuries-old spiritual bond with Russia. The coming months will reveal if this alleged EU condition becomes a breaking point for Pashinyan's pro-Western agenda, potentially triggering domestic religious backlash or further exacerbating Moscow's increasingly aggressive efforts to retain its influence in its traditional sphere.