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His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has called on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to step down in the wake of the deep internal political crisis in the country following the war in Artsakh.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Armenian religious leader said they discussed the aggravating situation in the country with the country’s president, National Assembly speaker, as well as members of various political and national organizations.

"We also met with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. In light of the growing domestic political tensions, serious external and internal challenges and the low level of trust in the prime minister, we urged him to resign in order to prevent shocks, possible clashes and tragic consequences in the public life," Catholicos Karekin II said.

He called on the country's parliament to elect a new prime minister and form an interim government of national accord together with the political forces.

Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia on Tuesday also urged Pashinyan to tender his resignation.

"Under the conditions of today's crisis, we call on Nikol Pashinyan to resign to enable the parliament of Armenia to elect a new prime minister in accordance with the Constitution,” Aram I said in a statement. “We hope that the interim government led by a new prime minister will swiftly organize snap parliamentary elections.”