The Yerevan City Criminal Court of First Instance issued its verdict in the criminal case against Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, the Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The court announced that Ajapahian should be found guilty under Section 2 of Article 422 of the Criminal Code of Armenia—that is, making public calls for seizing power, violating territorial integrity, renouncing sovereignty, or forcibly overthrowing the constitutional order.
“The preventive measure [of detention] has been left unchanged, with its limitations,” the court added.
Those present in the courtroom began to chant, “shame.”
“It will be fine,” Archbishop Ajapahian stated after the verdict was issued.
The next court hearing will be on September 29.
A public criminal prosecution has been launched against Archbishop Ajapahian.
According to the indictment, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian is charged with making public calls to seize power in Armenia during his several interviews with the mass media.
