Arrest of AAC hierarch - nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II extended in Armenia

In Yerevan, Armenia, a court extended for one month the arrest of the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Mkrtych (in the world Hayk Proshyan). The bishop, who is the nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, is accused of forcing citizens to participate in rallies. The court decision was announced on January 27.

As TASS news agency reports, the judge’s verdict reads: «The court decided to prolong the arrest against the accused Hayk Proshyan. At the same time to eliminate some restrictions. The decision can be appealed within 10 days.» Thus, Bishop Mkrtych’s detention will be extended for another month.

This development is part of a larger picture of tensions between Armenian state structures and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Previously, the news agenda has already raised the issues of internal church disagreements, initiatives on the «roadmap for Church renewal» and other legal processes concerning clergy.

As a reminder, we reported earlier that the highest governing body of the Armenian Apostolic Church — the Council of Bishops — will hold its session in mid-February in the Austrian city of St. Pelten instead of the traditional spiritual center of Echmiadzin, Armenia. The postponement is due to a serious escalation of conflict between the Church leadership and the current Armenian authorities, including arrests of bishops and public demands for the removal of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.