Armenian Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan Found Guilty of Calls to Overthrow Constitutional Order

Guilty Verdict Delivered in High-Profile Case

The Yerevan First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Armenia has found Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, guilty of making public calls for the seizure of power and the violent overthrow of the constitutional order. The verdict was announced on September 24, 2025, by Judge Armine Meliksetyan.

Archbishop Ajapahyan was convicted under Part 2 of Article 422 of Armenia's Criminal Code, which pertains to public calls aimed at usurping state power, violating territorial integrity, or forcibly overthrowing the constitutional order. The court ruled that his pre-trial detention, which began with his arrest on June 28, 2025, will remain in effect.

Charges and Defense Arguments

The charges against Archbishop Ajapahyan stem from interviews he gave to media outlets in February 2024 and again in June 2025, where he allegedly called for a military coup or the seizure of power. Notably, the Prosecutor General's Office had previously determined that similar remarks made in 2024 did not constitute a criminal offense.

Throughout the proceedings, Archbishop Ajapahyan has vehemently denied the charges. His legal team has consistently argued that the case is politically motivated, asserting that his statements are protected under the right to freedom of speech. Defense lawyer Ara Zohrabyan stated that the cleric is facing 'political persecution' for his critical views of the government. The defense also questioned the prosecution's failure to specify whether the Archbishop's statements were aimed at seizing power, overthrowing the constitutional order, or both.

Trial Timeline and Upcoming Sentencing

The trial of Archbishop Ajapahyan commenced on August 15, 2025, at the Yerevan City Criminal Court of First Instance. His arrest on June 28, 2025, followed an attempt by security forces to detain him at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, which was met with resistance from clergy and laypeople. The Archbishop subsequently surrendered voluntarily.

The sentencing hearing to determine the punishment has been scheduled for September 29, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. If convicted, Archbishop Ajapahyan faces a potential prison sentence of two to five years.

Reactions and Broader Context

The case has drawn significant attention and criticism from the Armenian Apostolic Church and its supporters, who describe the criminal proceedings as 'illegal' and 'politically motivated.' They view the prosecution as part of a broader effort to suppress the clergy. Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was permitted to visit Archbishop Ajapahyan in detention, a request that had previously been denied.