Preliminary hearing for Armenian archbishop set for this week

A preliminary court hearing for Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is scheduled for August 15.

The hearing will be conducted by Judge Armine Meliksetyan, according to the Armenian judicial and legal information website, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media. 

As reported earlier, the case follows allegations by Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office that Ajapahian publicly called for the unconstitutional overthrow of the government. The charges stem from comments made during a press interview on June 21, where Ajapahian reiterated statements originally made in February 2024.

In those statements, he reportedly advocated for a coup involving high-ranking military officials and security forces to remove the current government.

Ajapahian was detained on the evening of June 27. A court ruling issued during the night of June 28 ordered his arrest for two months, pending further investigation. 

By Sabina Mammadli