The criminal case against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and six bishops has been assigned to Judge Serzh Rushanyan of the court of general jurisdiction of Armavir Province of Armenia.

Judge Hovhannes Manukyan of the aforesaid court had recused himself during the first hearing on this case on August 7, explaining that he had been issued a lawyer's license from lawyer Ara Zohrabyan, who is a legal defender in the case.

The Catholicos of All Armenians and the six bishops are accused of failing to execute a judicial act. As per the indictment, Karekin II, being the Chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church, had used his respective official powers and obstructed the execution of another judicial act that had entered into legal force: the decision of the court of general jurisdiction of Armavir Province on granting the motion for the application of a security measure for the claim.

On January 15, Arman Saroyan—now defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan—had filed a lawsuit with the court of first instance of general jurisdiction of Armavir Province, requesting to recognize invalid the pontifical decree of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II of January 10 on his dismissal from the position of Primate of the Diocese of Masis of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and as a result, reinstating the plaintiff in the aforesaid capacity.