Armenian archbishop jailed for two years over anti-government calls

Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has been sentenced to two years in prison for publicly calling for the overthrow of the Armenian government, local media report.

The verdict was delivered by Judge Armine Meliksetyan. Prosecutor Arman Baghdasaryan had earlier requested a sentence of two years and six months, with credit for time already served in detention, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

Archbishop Ajapahyan was arrested in late June 2025 following allegations that he had publicly incited a regime change. The case revolves around his past interviews in which he accused Armenia’s current leadership of pursuing a course harmful to the country and spoke of the need for a political coup.

By Vugar Khalilov