The Best Place is the Defendant's Chair: Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan

During a court session, Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan stated, "You did not answer any questions as to why, during this time, when using the term revolution, you did not arrest me sooner. You also didn’t answer why you searched my apartment without notifying me or my lawyer. Why was I not arrested in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, or even after half a year in 2025? All questions remain unanswered, even the witnesses were not interrogated.

Why am I standing here now, as a defendant? Because my brothers who fell during '92-'94, who were of my age, do not allow me to be anywhere else. My sons, who lost their lives in 2020, do not allow me to be elsewhere. I must be where I am. This government has zeroed out both the achievements of my brothers from 1992-1994 and the martyrdom of 5000 young boys, my sons, from 2020. I cannot be anywhere else.

I am in the most beneficial place. I wouldn’t want to be in the place of the defenders who speak to the wall. I wouldn’t want to be in the place of my people, who are sitting there suffering from this injustice. Moreover, I wouldn’t wish to be in the place of the accusers; God forbid, I never want to have the desire to be in the court’s place. The best place I can be is the defendant's chair," said Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan. According to him, being a defendant in the current government’s conditions is nothing but an honor.