Armenian Church Hierarch Released from House Arrest

The Armenian Criminal Court of Appeals ruled to release Archbishop Mikael Adjapakhian from house arrest, replacing the pretrial restriction with a written pledge not to leave the country. According to Sputnik Armenia, this decision was made as part of the review of an appeal filed by the defense against the verdict of the court of first instance.

According to the court’s ruling, the verdict previously handed down by the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court was overturned, and the case was remanded for a new trial at the Shirak Region General Jurisdiction Court. It should be recalled that in October 2025, the archbishop was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of inciting a seizure of power. The defense has consistently maintained that the verdict was unlawful and considers the charges to be fabricated.

Commenting on the court’s decision, Archbishop Adjapakhian expressed disappointment that the verdict was not an acquittal. Earlier, on February 6, 2026, the Court of Appeals had already changed the clergyman’s pretrial detention measure, releasing him from pretrial detention and placing him under house arrest with the obligation to reside in Gyumri.