The preliminary hearing in the criminal case against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and six bishops, who are members of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has been scheduled for Friday at 3pm in Etchmiadzin city, the Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

But by virtue of the right provided for in Section 4 of Article 272 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, the Catholicos of All Armenians and the aforementioned high-ranking clergy will not attend this court session.

Their interests will be represented at this court hearing by their defense attorneys.

The Catholicos of All Armenians is charged with using his official powers to obstruct the execution of a judicial act that has entered into legal force by. The same charge has also been brought against Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Archbishop Haigazun Najarian, Bishop Moushegh Babayan, Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Bishop Makar Hakobyan, and Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian.

The aforementioned criminal case is in connection with the judicial process regarding the tenure of the now defrocked primate of the Diocese of Masis of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan—now Arman Saroyan. On January 10, Saroyan was dismissed from the aforesaid position by order of Karekin II. Saroyan had challenged the decision in court, and the latter applied a measure of security of the claim to ensure his tenure until the final judicial act in the case. According to the prosecution, the execution of that judicial act was subsequently hindered.

In February, a travel ban was imposed on Catholicos Karekin II as a pretrial measure, preventing him from leaving Armenia.