Karekin II case returns to Judge Rushanyan, hearings set for September 18

Judge Serzh Rushanyan of the Armavir Regional Court of First Instance, who had previously sent the criminal case involving Catholicos Karekin II and six bishops to Yerevan, has now decided to take over the case and scheduled preliminary hearings for September 18, online court documents showed.

The hearings will begin at 15:00.

Rushanyan had sent the case to Yerevan, arguing that the description of the charges against Karekin II did not specify the place where the alleged act was committed. Judge Vahagn Melikyan of the Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan then referred the case to the Court of Cassation to resolve the issue of jurisdiction.

The Court of Cassation stated that the charge against the Catholicos alone could not be separated when determining jurisdiction. The charges against the other six clergymen state that the actions attributed to them were committed at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council.

The Court of Cassation concluded that the Armavir Regional Court had taken a subjective approach, creating a risk of unnecessary transfer of the criminal case between courts, which could hinder its examination within a reasonable time. It ruled that the criminal proceedings should be heard by the Armavir Regional Court.

The case was subsequently assigned to Judge Serzh Rushanyan again.

Catholicos Karekin II has been charged with obstructing the enforcement of a legally binding court ruling by using his official powers in his capacity as both Catholicos and Chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council.

On January 10, 2026, by order of Karekin II, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, the Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn, was removed from his position as diocesan leader.

Bishop Gevorg Saroyan challenged his removal from office in court. On January 17, the court ruled that he should be reinstated as Primate of the Diocese until a final judicial decision is issued in the case.

The Catholicos and six bishops have been charged with failing to comply with the court ruling.

The clergy members have denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the court does not have jurisdiction over such matters.

Authorities have imposed a travel ban on Karekin II, barring him from leaving the country as a pretrial measure of restraint.