Armenia detains nephew of Catholicos and several other high-ranking clergy

An unprecedented political and religious crisis is flaring up in Armenia: today it became known about the detention of several representatives of the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as civilian workers. Among those detained are high-ranking clerics, which indicates another round of tension between the government of Nikol Pashinyan and the influential Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).

According to BAKU.WS, citing the head of the information service of the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Yesayi Artenyan, key clergy figures have been taken to the investigative committee:

• The Abbot of the Sagmosavank Monastery Complex, Priest Paren Arakelyan.

• The Head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan. It is particularly emphasized that Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan is the nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, which gives the incident additional significance.

• Other representatives of the clergy and civilian church workers were also detained.

The spokesperson for the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Kima Avdalyan, confirmed to local media that within the framework of the preliminary investigation of a criminal case initiated on the fact of "using official or service powers to force the holding of meetings or participation in them," necessary procedural and evidentiary actions are being carried out. She did not provide other details.