Armenia orders arrest of senior church leader for alleged anti-state remarks

The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia has officially called upon the Primate of the Diocese of Shirak of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, to present himself to a task force currently stationed near Etchmiadzin.

The NSS made the announcement amid heightened tensions surrounding the cleric's legal status, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

According to the NSS statement, a criminal case has been opened against Archbishop Ajapahian under Article 422, Part 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code. The charges pertain to alleged calls made by the Archbishop—via mass media and other public communication platforms—for the seizure of state power and the overthrow of the constitutional order.

In connection with these allegations, the NSS has issued a formal detention order for Ajapahian and has been tasked with its execution. The agency has urged the public to remain calm and avoid obstructing law enforcement operations.

“The National Security Service calls on citizens to refrain from aggravating the situation and urges them not to hinder law enforcement bodies in the execution of lawful decisions,” the statement says.

Reports of Ajapahian’s detention initially surfaced in Armenian media, but authorities later clarified that while a detention order had been issued, the Archbishop had not yet been taken into custody at that time.

Earlier, law enforcement officers conducted a search of the Archbishop’s residence in Gyumri as part of the ongoing investigation. However, Ajapahian was reportedly in Etchmiadzin attending a gathering of priests when the search took place.

The case has drawn considerable public attention due to the Archbishop’s prominent role within the Armenian Church and the broader implications of the criminal charges, which intersect with concerns over free speech, political dissent, and the role of religious figures in national discourse.

By Vafa Guliyeva