Archbishop Ajapahyan appears at Investigative Committee accompanied by NSS officers

On June 27, Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, arrived at the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, accompanied by officers of the National Security Service (NSS).

 Before arriving in Yerevan, the Archbishop walked a distance from Echmiadzin before continuing to Yerevan by car to appear before the Investigative Committee.

National Security Service agents and police officers on June 27 arrived at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Vagharshapat to arrest a senior clergyman  but have withdrawn from the area as a safety precaution after crowds began to gather.

 According to the NSS, the withdrawal was intended to prevent a potential premeditated escalation of the situation. The NSS reiterated its call for Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan to surrender to the authorities.Ajapahyan is accused of publicly advocating an overthrow of the government—a charge he denies.He previously stated that he does not intend to evade law enforcement. He was seen walking toward a police cruiser to submit to arrest, but he abruptly turned back and entered the Patriarchate headquarters, where a general assembly of clergymen was in progress. The Church later claimed that Ajapahyan’s supporters prevented him from entering the police vehicle. The NSS urged citizens not to escalate the situation or obstruct lawful law enforcement actions.