The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction has approved the investigator’s motion to detain Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, for a two-month period.
According to the Investigative Committee, a public criminal prosecution has been launched against Bishop Proshyan under Article 149, Part 2, Clause 4 of the Criminal Code (obstructing the exercise of electoral rights through the abuse of official position) and Article 236, Part 3 (using official authority or influence to prevent or compel participation in a gathering, or to offer material incentives to influence participation).
The charges stem from allegations that Bishop Proshyan abused his position to interfere in electoral and public assembly processes.
In a statement issued earlier, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemned what it described as the “unlawful criminal prosecution” of clergy from the Aragatsotn Diocese.
