A criminal case has been launched against Archbishop Mikael Adjapayan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, under Part 2 of Article 422 of Armenia’s Criminal Code. The article addresses public calls for the seizure of power, violation of territorial integrity, or the violent overthrow of the constitutional order. The case was confirmed by the Archbishop’s lawyer, Ara Zograbyan, via social media.

Zograbyan stated that the Archbishop denies the charges, calling them “clearly unfounded” and lacking the legal criteria for prosecution. He added that the investigator has requested pre-trial detention, with a court ruling expected within 24 hours.

The lawyer also accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of interfering in the legal process through public statements that could influence both the investigation and judicial proceedings.
“It is obvious that we are facing another illegal step in the authorities’ anti-Church campaign,” Zograbyan wrote, also condemning what he described as an unprecedented intrusion by NSS and police officers onto Church grounds.

The charges come amid deepening tensions between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the government. Archbishop Adjapayan, a vocal critic of PM Pashinyan, has gained backing from opposition circles but has publicly ruled out entering politics.
“I am fully satisfied with my role as a clergyman. I ask that my name not be mentioned among candidates for prime minister,” he said recently.

The case marks a sharp escalation in church–state friction and has raised broader concerns about freedom of speech, political expression, and the role of religious institutions in Armenia’s democratic life.

Tensions Escalate as Armenian Church Clashes with Authorities Over Archbishop’s Arrest

Security forces clashed with clergy and followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church on June 27 during a tense attempt to arrest Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The confrontation unfolded at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the spiritual center of the Armenian Church, after law enforcement arrived to detain the Archbishop on charges of publicly calling for the violent overthrow of the government — an accusation he strongly denies.

Initially appearing willing to cooperate, Ajapahian was shielded by clergy and laypeople who physically blocked the officers. Catholicos Garegin II was present and attempted to calm the situation, but clashes erupted when masked NSS agents and police tried to force their way in.

Dozens of NSS and riot police surrounded the complex. A brief attempt to breach the compound was repelled by protesters responding to calls from Church leaders and opposition figures. The standoff lasted about 30 minutes before security forces withdrew.

Later in the day, Ajapahian voluntarily turned himself in, reportedly in coordination with Church leadership — a decision that drew criticism from some supporters who favored continued resistance.

Prime Minister Pashinyan later accused protesters of inciting violence and praised security forces for showing restraint. The NSS issued a statement urging Ajapahian to comply with legal procedures and warned his supporters against escalating tensions.

The incident follows the arrest of another senior cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, on similar charges. Both arrests are seen as part of a broader effort to curb the political influence of the Armenian Apostolic Church — a move denounced by Church leaders as unconstitutional and deeply troubling.