Judge recuses himself in case involving Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II PHOTO / VIDEO / UPDATED

The judge assigned to the case involving Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II has recused himself, bringing a swift end to the first court hearing, Armenian media reported, citing Caliber.Az.

Judge Hakob Manukyan withdrew from the case shortly after proceedings began, a decision confirmed by lawyer Ara Zograbyan.

“Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself, refused to examine this case. He was a lawyer, and during his training I issued him his license. In my opinion, this is not grounds for recusal, but, taking into account that this may raise suspicions, the judge declared a recusal,” Zograbyan told journalists.

The initial hearing lasted less than 30 minutes following the judge’s decision to step aside.

16:48

The first court hearing in a case involving Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II was held behind closed doors, Armenian media reported on Friday, August 7, according to Caliber.Az.

Garegin II attended the session in person, arriving at the courthouse accompanied by six bishops, the reports said.

Law enforcement officials shut the doors of the courthouse after his arrival, barring journalists and representatives of opposition parties from entering the courtroom. No audio or video broadcast of the proceedings was made available.

Garegin II and members of the Armenian Apostolic Church are accused of obstructing the enforcement of a court ruling related to an interim measure in a lawsuit filed by Arman Saroyan, a defrocked former head of the Masisotsn Diocese.

Saroyan has challenged in court a council decision to remove him from his leadership position within the diocese. The case centres on allegations that the defendants impeded the execution of the court’s interim order linked to that dispute.

No immediate comment from representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church or legal counsel was reported.

10:55

Armenia is set to hold unprecedented preliminary court hearings on Friday in a criminal case against Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and six bishops, marking the first such proceedings in the country’s history involving the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The hearings are scheduled for 15:00 local time at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in the Armavir region, according to reports by Armenian media cited by Caliber.Az.

The case was initiated in February by Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office. Garegin II has been barred from leaving the country. Prosecutors accuse him of obstructing the enforcement of a court ruling linked to Arman Saroyan, a former clergyman.

According to the case materials, Saroyan was removed from his post as head of a diocese by order of the Catholicos after aligning himself with what was described as an anti-church campaign led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Subsequently, the Supreme Spiritual Council stripped Saroyan of his episcopal rank.

Saroyan challenged the decision in court, seeking reinstatement. Judicial authorities later ordered that the Armenian Church must not obstruct his activities. The Investigative Committee then opened a criminal case over alleged non-compliance with that ruling.

Ara Zoghrabyan, a lawyer representing members of the clergy, has argued that the proceedings amount to unlawful state interference. He said such actions violate the autonomy of the Church, undermine the constitutional framework governing relations between church and state, and breach the fundamental principle of freedom of religion.

The case unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the Armenian government and the Church leadership. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously called for Garegin II to step down, describing him as a threat to national security. He has stated that the Catholicos has been defrocked and has seized the patriarchal throne, violated the vow of celibacy, and must explain to the public why he has a wife and children.

The preliminary hearings are expected to determine whether the case proceeds to full trial, in what observers describe as a landmark test of the balance between state authority and religious independence in Armenia.

By Tamilla Hasanova