The court extended the arrest of Bishop Proshyan

The pretrial detention of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who is accused of obstructing the exercise of electoral rights and forcing participation in public meetings, has been extended by two months. His defense is appealing the decision.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, and priest Garegin Arsenyan were arrested on charges of coercion to participate in meetings. 

The pretrial detention of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has been extended by two months, the cleric's lawyer, Roman Aharonyan, told Aysor.am.

Judge Karen Farkhoyan ruled to extend the arrest for another two months. According to lawyer Roman Aharonyan, the ruling will be appealed immediately after the court decision is received.

"Bishop Mkrtich is a worthy man and a cleric, he is very steadfast. The problem is that the legal proceedings themselves are beyond the law," the lawyer stated.

Proshyan has been charged with two counts: obstructing the exercise of electoral rights using official or official powers, and coercing participation in meetings, also using official powers. The cleric denies the charges, according to the publication.

Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan  harshly criticized the Church at a government meeting on May 29, and responded to Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan's objections with insults on Facebook*. Armenian politicians and church representatives demanded that Pashinyan apologize for his insults to the Church.

The court  sentenced  Archbishop Mikael Ajapayan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, to two years in prison. The defense intends to appeal the verdict, and the case against Bagrat Galstanyan continues in court. Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Priest Garegin Arsenyan  have been arrested  on charges of coercion to participate in public gatherings. 

For more information on the case of Ajapayan and other political opponents of the current government, see the "Caucasian Knot" report " The Main Thing About Political Arrests in Armenia in the Summer of 2025. "