The head of Armenia’s ancient Apostolic Church and six other religious officials are set to stand trial Friday in connection with refusing to reinstate a defrocked bishop. The proceedings will take place at the Armavir Regional Court in Vagharshapat, Armenia’s spiritual center. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum two-year prison sentence for allegedly defying a civil court ruling.
The dispute centers on Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, whom the Church removed from his position in January after claiming he abused his authority and neglected his responsibilities. Saroyan has been a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and both men have publicly called for Catholicos Karekin II’s resignation. The Catholicos has emerged as a prominent critic of Pashinyan, particularly regarding the government’s handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and territorial concessions to Azerbaijan.
Legal experts and opposition figures characterize the prosecution as politically motivated retaliation. Rights advocates argue the case violates the constitutional autonomy of the Church and represents inappropriate government interference in religious matters. This trial represents the latest escalation in a prolonged conflict between Pashinyan and the Church leadership, which has faced mounting pressure from the government.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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