Armenian archbishop on trial for urging government overthrow

The trial of Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, charged with publicly calling for the violent overthrow of Armenia’s government, opened on August 15 in a Yerevan court.

According to Armenian media, cited by Caliber.Az, the proceedings are open to the public.

The case, brought by Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, alleges that Ajapahian urged the unconstitutional seizure of power and the renunciation of state sovereignty.

The charges relate to remarks made during a press interview on June 21, in which he repeated calls first voiced in February 2024.

In those earlier and repeated statements, prosecutors say, Ajapahian advocated for a coup involving senior military commanders and security forces to remove the current government.

Ajapahian was detained on June 27, and a court order issued overnight on June 28 placed him under a two-month arrest pending further investigation. He was formally charged on June 29.

By Tamilla Hasanova