Court finds Armenian Church bishop guilty of calls for overthrow

Court hearing in the case of Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan. Photo: azatutyun.am

On September 24, 2025, a Yerevan court found the head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan, guilty of publicly calling for the overthrow of the government. The Armenian service of Radio Liberty reported the news.

According to Article 422, Part 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code, the clergyman faces either a fine or up to five years of imprisonment. Additional hearings in the case are scheduled for September 29, when the sentence will be determined. The Archbishop has remained in custody for more than three months, and the court did not change the previously imposed preventive measure.

The charges are connected with an interview given a year ago, in which Ajapakhyan spoke of the need for a coup. Although at the time the Prosecutor General’s Office found no grounds for prosecution, later investigators claimed that the clergyman had repeatedly made similar statements.

Ajapakhyan’s lawyers pointed to procedural violations during the trial and expressed doubts that the verdict would be fair. Among other things, they cited irregularities during a search and the fact that other defendants in similar cases were under house arrest, while Ajapakhyan was sent to prison. According to attorney Ara Zograbyan, the authorities intend to keep the clergyman behind bars until the parliamentary elections in June 2026.

The bishop does not admit guilt and considers the case political. In court he declared that even while behind bars, he feels free and grateful for the opportunity “to speak with God and with myself.”

In June, Archbishop Bagrat (Vazgen Galstanyan), head of the Tavush Diocese and leader of the “Sacred Struggle” movement, was arrested on similar charges. He also criticizes Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and stands accused of attempting to seize power.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the case of Archbishop Bagrat and 17 of his supporters had been sent to court in Armenia.

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