UPDATE: A court in Armenia has just sentenced Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan to two years in prison for allegedly calling for regime change. This verdict, delivered on Friday, October 20, 2023, has ignited fierce backlash, with the Armenian Apostolic Church denouncing the trial as a politically motivated assault against religious leaders.
The confrontation is escalating between the church and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government, which has already seen multiple clerics arrested under charges related to alleged coup attempts. Archbishop Ajapahyan’s conviction comes amidst increasing tension as Pashinyan prepares for parliamentary elections next year.
Ajapahyan was initially arrested in June 2023 over comments made in an interview a year prior, where he suggested a coup was necessary for Armenia’s future. Although prosecutors initially dismissed these statements as non-punishable, renewed remarks this year led to his arrest. Following the court ruling, the church issued a statement branding the conviction an act of “political vengeance.”
The church’s struggle against the government’s actions is compounded by Armenia’s ongoing diplomatic tensions with Azerbaijan. In August 2023, a US-brokered peace agreement was signed in Washington DC, yet significant obstacles remain, including Azerbaijan’s demands for constitutional changes in Armenia.
As this situation develops, the implications of Ajapahyan’s sentencing could resonate beyond the courtroom, affecting both the political landscape and the stability of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Observers are closely watching how these tensions will play out in the lead-up to next year’s elections and the ongoing peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds.
