Armenian archbishop sentenced to two years over alleged coup plot

A prominent Armenian cleric has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of calling for the overthrow of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government.

Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was sentenced by the Yerevan City First Instance Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction. The prosecution had requested a sentence of two years and six months.

The court had delivered its verdict on 24 September, finding Ajapahian guilty under Section 2 of Article 422 of the Armenian Criminal Code, which covers making public calls to seize power, violating territorial integrity, renouncing sovereignty, or forcibly overthrowing Armenia’s constitutional order. The preventive measure of detention was maintained, along with its associated restrictions.

Ajapahian, who was arrested in June, is accused of making public calls to seize power in Armenia during multiple media interviews. His detention sparked clashes between security forces and crowds at the church headquarters, with videos showing confrontations between clergymen and police. He later appeared at Armenia’s Investigative Committee before being placed in pretrial detention.

The archbishop’s arrest followed that of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the opposition Sacred Struggle movement, who was accused of plotting sabotage against the government. Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan was also detained on similar charges, which he denied.

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