Judge Orders Case Involving Catholicos Garegin II and Six Bishops Transferred to Yerevan Court

ETCHMIADZIN — A court hearing in the case involving Catholicos Garegin II and six bishops began at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in Armenia’s Armavir Province.

Judge Serzh Rushanyan ruled that the case should be transferred to the Yerevan Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction for further proceedings.

The judge emphasized that he was not seeking to avoid hearing the case but said there was an issue of territorial jurisdiction. He noted that the case should be heard in the jurisdiction where the alleged offense was committed.

On August 7, Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself from the case involving Garegin II and the six bishops. He explained that attorney Ara Zohrabyan, who is representing the defendants, had previously issued him his attorney’s license.

Garegin II and the six bishops are charged with failure to comply with a court ruling.

According to the indictment, “Garegin II Nersisyan, in his capacity as chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, used his official authority to obstruct the enforcement of a legally binding ruling by the Armavir Regional Court granting a motion for an interim measure.”

If convicted, the senior clergymen could face up to two years in prison.

It is the first time in the history of independent Armenia that the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church has appeared before a court on criminal charges.