In Armenia, the court released Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan from house arrest

A court in Armenia has decided to soften the preventive measure for the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, replacing his house arrest with a non-deprivation signature and administrative supervision. Despite his release, the cleric is forbidden to visit his diocese and contact with those in his criminal case.

According to TASS, the relevant decision was read out by Judge David Dabaghyan during the session broadcasted by local TV channels. According to the new conditions of detention, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan (in the world Hayk Proshyan), who is the nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, is obliged to report to the probation service on a weekly basis. The court set a strict ban on communicating with representatives of the Diocese and any witnesses in the case.

Recall that the bishop was arrested on October 16 last year on charges of obstructing the right to vote and forcing citizens to participate in rallies using his official position. This trial is taking place against the background of the general aggravation of relations between the state and the Church in Armenia. Previously, other high-ranking hierarchs, including Archbishops Arshak Khachatryan and Mikael Ajapakhyan, have been arrested or investigated in various cases, which caused a wide public outcry and concern of the international Orthodox community.

Earlier, the Armenian Parliament approved in the second and final reading a draft law that significantly restricts the right of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) to freely dispose of its religious sites. This step, perceived by the opposition as another anti-church attack, obliges the AAC to obtain the government’s consent for the transfer of any religious buildings included in the state registers of monuments to a third party.