Armenia Detains Six Priests Amid Wider Investigation into Church Figures
Crackdown on clergymen widens amid accusations of coup plotting and political involvement.
In a widening crackdown, six Armenian clergymen were detained on Wednesday according to their lawyer.
The detentions are part of an ongoing investigation that includes accusations against religious figures of plotting coups in Armenia.
Five priests from the Aragatsotn diocese of the Apostolic Church in western Armenia and Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, its most senior figure, were taken into custody after their homes were searched.
Additionally, several civilians have also been arrested as per lawyer Ara Zograbyan's Facebook update.
Armenian authorities have not yet issued a statement regarding these detentions.
The Investigative Committee, responsible for investigations within the judiciary, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this matter.
This action follows an interview given by another pastor last month on public television claiming that the Apostolic Church coerced its members into participating in anti-government protests against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in 2021.
In response, the non-profit organization Union of Informed Citizens petitioned prosecutors to investigate these allegations.
The senior council of the Apostolic Church has condemned the arrests as an example of systemic pressure on the Armenian Church, according to statements reported by Armenian media outlets.
The ongoing tension between the government and the Church comes amid increasing pressures on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for upcoming parliamentary elections in June and a need to reach peace agreements with Azerbaijan.
The crackdown began this summer with several prominent clerics arrested on charges of attempting to instigate violent coups.
One of them, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, was sentenced to two years in prison after what the Apostolic Church described as a politically motivated trial.
Another cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who is awaiting trial, led protests against Pashinyan over perceived territorial concessions made to Azerbaijan following conflicts in 2020 and 2023.
Several senior clergymen have previously called for Pashinyan's resignation, citing Armenia's military losses to Azerbaijan.
The detentions are part of an ongoing investigation that includes accusations against religious figures of plotting coups in Armenia.
Five priests from the Aragatsotn diocese of the Apostolic Church in western Armenia and Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, its most senior figure, were taken into custody after their homes were searched.
Additionally, several civilians have also been arrested as per lawyer Ara Zograbyan's Facebook update.
Armenian authorities have not yet issued a statement regarding these detentions.
The Investigative Committee, responsible for investigations within the judiciary, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this matter.
This action follows an interview given by another pastor last month on public television claiming that the Apostolic Church coerced its members into participating in anti-government protests against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in 2021.
In response, the non-profit organization Union of Informed Citizens petitioned prosecutors to investigate these allegations.
The senior council of the Apostolic Church has condemned the arrests as an example of systemic pressure on the Armenian Church, according to statements reported by Armenian media outlets.
The ongoing tension between the government and the Church comes amid increasing pressures on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for upcoming parliamentary elections in June and a need to reach peace agreements with Azerbaijan.
The crackdown began this summer with several prominent clerics arrested on charges of attempting to instigate violent coups.
One of them, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, was sentenced to two years in prison after what the Apostolic Church described as a politically motivated trial.
Another cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who is awaiting trial, led protests against Pashinyan over perceived territorial concessions made to Azerbaijan following conflicts in 2020 and 2023.
Several senior clergymen have previously called for Pashinyan's resignation, citing Armenia's military losses to Azerbaijan.
