Armenian bishop faces prison over call to oust prime minister

Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is facing up to five years in prison after Armenian state prosecutors accused him of inciting the violent overthrow of the government.

During a court hearing this week, Prosecutor Vahan Harutyunyan formally requested that the court convict the archbishop under Part 2, Article 422 of Armenia’s Criminal Code, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The article pertains to public calls—particularly through mass media—for the violent seizure of power and the dismantling of the constitutional order.

The case centers on a series of public statements made by Archbishop Ajapahian in which he urged the removal of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan through violent means.

“He made public calls for the violent seizure of power, which reached a broad audience and were viewed over 40,000 times,” Harutyunyan stated during the hearing.

The prosecution argued that the archbishop’s remarks, widely disseminated online and in public forums, constituted a direct violation of national laws designed to protect constitutional governance. Harutyunyan further asserted that the prosecution has presented sufficient and compelling evidence to substantiate the charges and secure a conviction.

The court has not yet issued a verdict. If found guilty, Ajapahian could face a prison sentence of up to five years.

By Vafa Guliyeva