Armenian archbishop faces extended detention amid investigations

Armenian authorities have filed a motion to extend the detention of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, head of the Echmiadzin office, Khachatryan’s lawyer, Arsen Babayan, confirmed.

Khachatryan was initially arrested by a Yerevan court on December 5 for a two-month period. He is the fourth senior hierarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church to be placed in custody in recent months, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media. 

Investigators allege that in 2018, Khachatryan planted drugs in the bag of an activist who was participating in a protest calling for the resignation of Catholicos Garegin II.

Earlier, in October, the Telegram channel Armenian WikiLeaks released a video purportedly showing Khachatryan involved in an affair with his uncle’s wife, further fueling controversy surrounding the cleric.

By Sabina Mammadli