Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan’s house arrest lifted

By a decision of the Criminal Court of Appeal, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan’s house arrest was lifted, while the travel restriction imposed on him remains in effect.

The Court of Appeal also overturned the ruling of the court of first instance in Ajapahyan’s case and sent the case back for a new examination.

The final hearing in Archbishop Mikael’s case took place today.

The Primate of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, was arrested on June 28, 2025, and remanded in custody for two months. His detention was subsequently extended. Public criminal prosecution was initiated against the archbishop under Part 2 of Article 422 of the Criminal Code (public calls for the seizure of power, violation of territorial integrity, renunciation of sovereignty, or the violent overthrow of the constitutional order).

On September 25, 2025, the court found Archbishop Mikael guilty of public calls to seize power under Part 2 of Article 422 of the Criminal Code. In a verdict published on October 3, 2025, he was sentenced to two years in prison. By a court decision issued on February 6, 2026, his detention was lifted and replaced with house arrest.