Armenian bishop agrees to voluntary appearance after standoff at Etchmiadzin

Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has agreed to voluntarily appear before the Investigative Committee of Armenia following a tense standoff at Etchmiadzin.

According to Ara Zohrabyan, one of Ajapahian’s legal representatives, the archbishop and his lawyers departed Etchmiadzin en route to the Investigative Committee, accompanied by several priests, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Zohrabyan explained that a meeting of priests, coordinated by Ajapahian, had been scheduled in Etchmiadzin. During the gathering, officers from the National Security Service (NSS) arrived to inform them that the Investigative Committee had issued a detention order for Ajapahian. The officers requested that the meeting proceed without interference and that the archbishop voluntarily report to the Committee afterward.   

Despite this, law enforcement did not consent to postpone the detention. Following these developments, Ajapahian agreed to present himself to the Investigative Committee voluntarily. The heavy presence of NSS and police personnel, however, escalated tensions and provoked anger among priests and local citizens. After law enforcement withdrew from the area, Ajapahian and his legal team decided to comply with the Committee’s summons. 

By Vafa Guliyeva