Two arrested in Armenia over theft of Church items

Armenian police have arrested two residents of Armavir, aged 30 and 38, on suspicion of stealing religious items from churches.

The arrests follow reports over the past two weeks concerning the disappearance of crosses, chalices, censers and other church items. The suspects were located during investigative operations in the afternoon on the Yerevan–Yerask highway, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

Police said the suspects had already sold some of the allegedly stolen items.

The development comes after Armenia’s Interior Ministry recently reported the theft of crosses from the Surb Hovhannes Church in Hovhannavank and a church in Artashat. Each church was estimated to have suffered damage of around 100,000 drams ($273), according to the ministry.

A criminal case has been opened, and the investigation into the alleged thefts and the whereabouts of the remaining items is continuing.

By Sabina Mammadli