The trial in the case of Catholicos Garegin II and six bishops has been postponed again

The next court hearing in the high-profile case against Catholicos Garegin II of All Armenians and six bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church has been postponed to December 4, 2026. According to Sputnik Armenia, the hearing was adjourned due to the absence of representatives from the prosecutor’s office.

Defense attorney Ara Zograbyan sharply criticized the actions of the prosecuting authority, describing the situation as a deliberate attempt to drag out the high-profile trial. According to the defense, the absence of any of the prosecutors assigned to the case indicates sabotage of the judicial proceedings.

Criminal proceedings against the senior clergy were initiated by the Investigative Committee of Armenia after Garegin II defrocked Bishop Gevork Saroyan (born Arman Saroyan), who had openly supported the state authorities in their conflict with the church. The charges are based on articles concerning failure to comply with or obstruction of judicial orders.

Earlier, on September 18, the clergymen’s attorneys had already filed a motion to dismiss the criminal case, arguing that state interference in the internal affairs of a religious organization is impermissible. It is worth noting that the legal disputes began against the backdrop of a civil lawsuit filed by Saroyan himself, the proceedings of which have since been dismissed.