Judge Serzh Rushanyan has decided to transfer the criminal case against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and six bishops to the Yerevan criminal court of first instance of general jurisdiction to examine it and determine the expediency of examining the case in an Armavir provincial court.

The parties made objections to this decision, but the judge overruled their objections. Earlier, Judge Hakob Manukyan had recused himself from presiding over this criminal case.