Armenian Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan Arrested on Charges of Calling for Overthrow of Government

Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has been arrested in Yerevan on charges of inciting the overthrow of the government, Orda.kz reports, citing The Insider.

A Yerevan court has ordered two months of pre-trial detention. His lawyer, Ara Zohrabyan, stated that there is no criminal basis for the charges and that the decision will be appealed.

Security forces attempted to detain Ajapahyan on June 27 in Etchmiadzin. Clergy blocked the arrest.

The archbishop later emerged and voluntarily approached the police.

Earlier, the Investigative Committee of Armenia accused supporters of the "Tavush for the Homeland" ("Holy Struggle") movement — led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan — of allegedly plotting terrorist acts and an attempted power grab.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed authorities had foiled what he described as “a large-scale destabilization plan” orchestrated by “a criminal-oligarchic clergy.”

The Armenian Apostolic Church has also become increasingly critical of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government in recent months.