Justice ministry seeks to discipline judge who recused himself from Catholicos trial

Armenia’s Justice Ministry has petitioned the country’s Supreme Judicial Council to discipline Hakob Manukyan, a judge from the town of Armavir, over his decision to recuse himself from presiding over the trial of Catholicos Karekin II, the patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The development was first reported Friday by Radio Free Europe’s Armenian Service.

The Catholicos is charged with obstructing the enforcement of a court ruling. The case stems from a dispute involving Archbishop Gevorg Saroyan, who was removed from his position as head of a diocese in January following a disagreement with the Church leadership. Saroyan later challenged his dismissal in court, which ordered the Church to reinstate him while the case was being considered. Karekin II subsequently defrocked Saroyan, accusing him of violating his oath of obedience by taking the dispute to a secular court.

Manukyan recused himself in August, citing a potential conflict of interest because he had previously worked as a defense attorney under the Catholicos’s lawyer in the case. At least two other judges subsequently avoided taking on the case, along with prosecutor Khachatur Galstyan, who recused himself for reasons “unrelated to the case,” as the Prosecutor General’s Office told CivilNet.

The criminal case against Karekin II is the latest development in a conflict between the Catholicos and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that has intensified since 2025.

Pashinyan began openly demanding Karekin II’s resignation last year, referring to him by his secular name. The prime minister has also accused the Catholicos of having links to foreign security services, without providing publicly available evidence. Members of Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party have joined calls for Karekin II to step down.

Also read: Religious leaders, including Artsakh Bishop, urge Karekin II’s exit

The confrontation has also involved arrests and criminal cases against several senior Armenian clerics, including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a prominent opposition figure who led anti-government protests in 2024.

The Armenian Church has rejected calls for Karekin II’s resignation and has taken disciplinary action against clergy members who have sided with Pashinyan.

Also read: How Armenia’s Church and government conflict challenges secularism