Civilnet
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
By Alexander Pracht
Following a string of arrests targeting senior clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) moved into the spiritual center of Ejmiatsin on Friday in an attempt to detain Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, head of the Church’s Shirak Diocese. The situation at the Mother See remains tense, as reinforcements in the form of riot police arrived at the scene, although no violent clashes have occurred so far.
Although Archbishop Mikayel initially stated he would cooperate and agree to be escorted by law enforcement officers, tensions quickly escalated when a scuffle broke out. The archbishop ultimately turned back and entered the Veharan, the residence of the Catholicos, where a gathering of senior clergy was already scheduled to take place.
The NSS issued an arrest warrant for Ajapahyan, charging him with making public calls to seize power and violently overthrow the constitutional order. It called on the archbishop to surrender voluntarily. However, according to the agency, as the crowd interfered with the attempted arrest, the NSS and the police decided to withdraw from the Cathedral premises in Ejmiatsin, citing security concerns and the need to prevent a possible escalation.
According to state-run Armenpress, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II had earlier announced that Archbishop Mikayel would go with the NSS agents accompanied by a lawyer. Other clergymen were expected to assemble in the Veharan to hold discussions and determine their course of action in light of recent developments.
“As planned, we have a meeting today. The Archbishop will now go with our lawyer, and we will gather in the Veharan to conduct our discussions and draw conclusions on our next steps. We will make every effort to ensure that justice is upheld,” the Catholicos said.
This dramatic turn of events comes amid heightened tensions between the Church and the government, with Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of last year’s demonstrations against Prime Minister Pashinyan’s cabinet, arrested on Wednesday and charged with preparing an armed coup plot and a terrorist attack. Alongside Galstanyan, who was put in pre-trial detention for two months, fourteen more individuals were detained, with authorities publishing footage of weapons and military gear they had allegedly prepared for the armed riot, as well as voice recordings and other evidence.
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