Archbishop Arshak’s lawyers seek presiding judge’s recusal

The first court hearing in the case of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, has commenced at the Armavir Regional Court of General Jurisdiction.

During the session, presiding Judge Gevorg Manukyan disclosed that he had prior professional interaction with the public prosecutor in the case, including work within the investigative system. He emphasized, however, that these circumstances would not affect his ability to act impartially and fairly.

The judge then inquired whether the defense intended to file a motion for his recusal.

Responding affirmatively, defense attorney Yerem Sargsyan stated that the legal team had indeed submitted such a motion.

Another member of the defense team, Arsen Babayan, representing an advocacy group, noted that there could be concerns regarding potential prior involvement of the judge in matters related to the alleged disappearance or even possible non-existence of the drugs in question.

“Therefore, I request that you recuse yourself in order to eliminate any doubts,” Babayan stated.

According to the case materials, Archbishop Khachatryan is accused of allegedly instructing an unidentified individual to place marijuana in the backpacks of participants of a 2018 protest, with the aim of discrediting members of the “New Armenia, New Patriarch” movement. Based on these allegations, he is charged with drug trafficking with intent to distribute.

The Archbishop was held in pretrial detention for three months. He was detained on December 5 by decision of Judge Masis Melkonyan.

A day earlier, on December 4, officers of the National Security Service arrested him at the Investigative Committee building. The Investigative Committee reported that criminal proceedings had been initiated under Article 393, Part 2, Clauses 1 and 4 of the Criminal Code, relating to the illegal sale of drugs by a group of persons with prior agreement, carried out in a public place.

Subsequently, on March 5, the Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Arsen Nikoghosyan, ruled to immediately release the Archbishop from custody.