Archbishop Arshak released

Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has been immediately released from detention.

The decision was made by Judge Nikoghosyan of the Court of Appeal.

It should be recalled that Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan was arrested on December 5 and had been held at the “Yerevan-Kentron” penitentiary institution. The decision to place the clergyman in pre-trial detention was made by Judge Masis Melkonyan.

On December 4, the National Security Service detained Archbishop Arshak in the building of the Investigative Committee. It later announced the criminal proceedings within which Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan had been arrested.

He was charged under Article 393, Part 2, Clauses 1 and 4 of the Criminal Code.

“During the preliminary investigation of the criminal case, public criminal prosecution was initiated against the individual under Article 393, Part 2, Clauses 1 and 4 of the Criminal Code (illegal sale of narcotic drugs by a group of persons with prior agreement in a public place),” the Investigative Committee told Aysor.am.