Armenian Church hierarch moved from pretrial detention to house arrest

Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan in court. Photo: Sputnik Armenia

Yerevan’s Court of Appeal has released Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan from custody, replacing detention with house arrest and a travel restriction. The defense motion was granted, Sputnik Armenia reports.

Under the court’s decision, the archbishop must remain at his place of residence in Gyumri, and, if inpatient treatment is required, at the appropriate medical facility. The court also imposed limits on whom the hierarch may meet. Exceptions were made for close relatives, lawyers, one priest of the Shirak Eparchy, one employee of the administrative and facilities department, and medical personnel.

Separately, the court allowed the archbishop to meet with his nephew, Grigor Ajapahyan, who holds official guardian status. At the same time, the judge said the defense request to permit the hierarch to participate in worship services would be considered later, citing the need to review international case law.

Earlier, in early October, a Yerevan court of first instance sentenced Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan to two years in prison on charges related to calls to seize power. The defense says the verdict is unlawful and considers the accusations fabricated and politically motivated.

The archbishop’s case is being heard amid a sharpening confrontation between Armenia’s authorities and the Armenian Apostolic Church. After sharp statements by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan directed at the clergy, and initiatives to change the procedure for electing the Catholicos, several hierarchs and church figures were arrested.

As the UOJ previously reported, the arrested Armenian Church archbishops declared a hunger strike.

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