Karekin II and six senior clergymen to face preliminary court hearing August 28

The preliminary hearing in the criminal case against Catholicos Karekin II and six senior clergymen has been scheduled for August 28, their lawyer Ara Zohrabyan has said.

The hearing will take place at the court’s Vagharshapat seat at 4:30 p.m., with Judge Serzh Rushanyan presiding.

“The Catholicos of All Armenians and the bishops (archbishops) will not attend this hearing pursuant to Article 272, Part 4 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia. The defense lawyers will participate in the hearing,” Zohrabyan said.

Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Karekin II is charged under Article 507, Part 2 of the Criminal Code with obstructing the enforcement of a legally binding judicial act by using his official powers. The same charge has been brought against Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Archbishop Haykazun Najaryan, Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan, Bishop Makar Hakobyan, Bishop Mushegh Babayan and Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan.

The case is connected to legal proceedings concerning the tenure of former Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn Bishop Gevorg Saroyan. On January 10, 2026, Karekin II ordered Saroyan’s removal as diocesan leader. Saroyan challenged the decision in court, which imposed an interim measure requiring that he remain in office until a final ruling in the case. According to the prosecution, enforcement of that judicial act was subsequently obstructed.

In February, a travel restriction was imposed on Karekin II as a preventive measure, barring him from leaving Armenia.

The first court hearing in the case was held on August 7. Karekin II and the other defendants attended. During that hearing, Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself, resulting in the postponement of the hearing. The clergy members have denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the court does not have jurisdiction over such matters.