Armenian court extends detention of Catholicos Garegin II’s brother, nephew

An Armenian court has extended the pre-trial detention of the brother and nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, amid a deepening confrontation between the country’s political leadership and the church.

The court prolonged the detention of Gevorg Nersisyan for two months, while his son Ambarcum Nersisyan will remain in custody for an additional three months, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media. Both were arrested on November 3.

The two have been charged with obstructing the election campaign of the pro-Western Republic party during local elections in Vagharshapat.

Investigators allege that on November 1, in the village of Voskeat — part of the enlarged Vagharshapat community — the Nersisyans confronted and insulted a party representative distributing campaign leaflets. The case was referred to court on November 17.

Their arrest comes as tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church have escalated. The rift deepened after a series of sharp social-media posts in which Pashinyan criticised senior clergy.

The prime minister has since proposed changing the procedure for electing the Catholicos, giving the state a key role in the process, and has said he plans to personally lead a movement to remove Garegin II.

By Aghakazim Guliyev