Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemns the June 28 court decision ordering the arrest and imprisonment of His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese. This ruling is a direct result of the anti-Church policies pursued by the Prime Minister and other high-ranking government officials, as well as their rhetoric of hostility and hatred toward the clergy.
The facts demonstrate that the court’s decision, rendered under political direction and pressure, is both baseless and unlawful.
The actions taken against Archbishop Mikael constitute, in the classical sense, a case of political persecution and a manifestation of personal vendetta by an individual who professes to be a Christian and a child of the Armenian Church—yet who, on the previous day, instructed law enforcement to blockade the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This reprehensible and unprecedented action constituted an assault on the spiritual center of the Armenian people, its clergy, and the faithful.
We call upon the judiciary and all relevant state authorities to uphold the rule of law and to ensure the immediate release of His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
