Trial of Catholicos Karekin II and six bishops to continue at Yerevan Court of First Instance

Judge Serzh Rushanyan of the Criminal Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction of Armavir Province has ruled that the criminal case concerning Catholicos Karekin II and six bishops and archbishops who are members of the Supreme Spiritual Council should be transferred to the Criminal Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan. Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan told reporters about the decision.

The judge justified the ruling by noting that the wording of the charges against the Catholicos does not specify the place where the alleged offence was committed.

Zohrabyan said the prosecution had requested that media outlets be prohibited from broadcasting the court hearing and that the proceedings be held behind closed doors, but the judge rejected the request.

“Today we witnessed that the judge did not want to hear the case. We disagree with the court’s decision because we believe it is wrong,” Zohrabyan said, adding that the defence is concerned that the case could be assigned to judges whom the public does not trust.

Karekin II is charged under Article 507, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia with obstructing the enforcement of a final judicial act through the use of official powers. The same charge has also 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 linked to court proceedings concerning the tenure of Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, former Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn. On January 10, 2026, by order of Karekin II, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan was relieved of his post as diocesan head. He challenged the decision in court, and the court imposed an interim measure requiring that he remain in office until a final judicial act was issued in the case. According to the prosecution, the enforcement of that judicial act was subsequently obstructed.

In February, a ban on leaving the country was imposed on Catholicos Karekin II as a preventive measure, preventing him from leaving Armenia.

The first court hearing in the case was held on August 7. Catholicos Karekin II and the other defendants attended the hearing. During the proceedings, Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself, resulting in the hearing being postponed.