Criminal Proceedings Launched Against Mikhail Ajapahyan: Details

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Archbishop Mikhail Ajapahyan under part 2 of article 422 of the RA Criminal Code. This was reported by the rector of the Law Academy, Ara Zohrabyan.

“Archbishop Mikhail has denied the charges. The investigator has requested the court to detain Archbishop Mikhail. The court must make a decision within 24 hours from the moment of the arrest of the Archbishop. The accusation is evidently unfounded and does not contain the elements of the crime outlined in part 2 of article 422 of the RA Criminal Code. The entire process of attempts to arrest and interrogate is accompanied by inappropriate records from Nikol Pashinyan directing the preliminary investigation and the court. It is clear that we are dealing with another illegal step in the anti-church processes of the government, manifesting in the unprecedented action of agents from the NSS and police invading the territory of the Mother See. We will provide more information about the court and the investigation timing later,” he stated.