The Yerevan First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction has delivered a guilty verdict against Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, in a high-profile criminal case involving charges of making public calls to overthrow the constitutional order.
Judge Armine Meliksetyan announced the decision, stating that Bishop Ajapahyan was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 422 of Armenia’s Criminal Code, which concerns public calls aimed at usurping state power, violating territorial integrity, or forcibly overthrowing the constitutional order.
The court ruled that Ajapahyan’s pre-trial detention will remain in effect with its current restrictions. The sentencing hearing to determine the punishment has been scheduled for September 29 at 3:30 p.m.
Bishop Ajapahyan was arrested on June 28 by a decision of Judge Masis Melkonyan of the same court. Prosecutors accused him of making public statements that allegedly incited the seizure of power, violation of Armenia’s territorial integrity, renunciation of sovereignty, or the overthrow of the constitutional order.
