Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, the Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, arrived at the Investigative Committee of Armenia in Yerevan.

Masked officers from the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia escorted him inside the Investigative Committee.

Archbishop Ajapahian had marched to the Investigative Committee from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The situation at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was since early morning. Hundreds of police and NSS officers as well as special police forces had arrived at the Mother See to detain Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian. Archbishop Ajapahian voluntarily left the Veharan, the official residence and workplace of the Catholicos of All Armenians, but fellow clergy and ordinary citizens did not allow law enforcement officers to detain him. And a few hours later, law enforcement officers left the Mother See.

Earlier, outside the seat of the Shirak Diocese, Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan had read out the decision of an Investigative Committee investigator to take Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian into custody. He had emphasized that the reason cited was the words of Archbishop Ajapahian during an interview given on February 3, 2024, allegedly making public calls aimed at seizing power and forcibly overthrowing the constitutional order in Armenia. Zohrabyan had added that the Investigative Committee will request that Ajapahian be arrested.

This morning, about 30 masked individuals broke into the seat of the Shirak Diocese.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian.

“On June 17, 2025, criminal proceedings were initiated under Section 2 of Article 422 of the Criminal Code (public calls aimed at seizing power, violating territorial integrity, renouncing sovereignty, or forcibly overthrowing the constitutional order),” the Prosecutor General’s Office had informed.