Armenian security forces raid archbishop Adjapahyan’s residence

Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was reportedly the target of a break-in by masked individuals at his residence early on the morning of June 27.

Around 30 masked individuals stormed his residency, though the archbishop was not present at the time. The incident was first reported on social media by lawyer Migran Poghosyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The break-in comes amid heightened political tensions in Armenia, where Archbishop Adjapahyan is facing criminal charges for "making public calls for the seizure of power." 

The incident follows the arrest of another senior cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who was taken into custody on June 26 on charges of attempting a coup. Galstanyan was detained alongside 14 others after Armenian authorities claimed to have foiled a plot to overthrow the government. A Yerevan court subsequently ordered his pre-trial detention for two months, according to his lawyer, Hovhannes Khudoyan.

By Sabina Mammadli