Yerevan court finds Archbishop Ajapahian guilty of inciting government overthrow

A court in Yerevan has ruled that Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is guilty of incitement to overthrow the government — a charge stemming from past public statements critical of Armenia’s leadership.

The decision was handed down by Judge Armine Meliksetyan of Yerevan's First Instance General Jurisdiction Court. Meliksetyan confirmed that the archbishop’s pre-trial detention would remain in effect, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“Additional hearings are scheduled for September 29 at 15:30,” the judge stated during the proceedings.

Archbishop Ajapahian was arrested in late June on charges of making public calls to topple the government. The allegations are based on a series of earlier interviews in which the senior clergyman sharply criticized the Armenian authorities, accusing them of pursuing policies detrimental to the nation’s future. In these remarks, he allegedly alluded to the necessity of a political upheaval or coup.

By Vafa Guliyeva