Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese, who has been in pretrial detention for two months, has sent a message to the public from prison.
He stated that this unlawful imprisonment has brought him “closer to God, the homeland, and the people.”
“It’s been 40 days since my imprisonment… Glory to the Almighty, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I remain energetic, bright, and joyful in God.
This unlawful imprisonment brought me even closer to God, to my eternal homeland, and to my beloved people.
God first…
‘In Your mercy, destroy my enemies and eliminate all who oppress my soul, for I am Your servant.’
This is from the Book of Psalms—directed at the unrighteous.
Glory to You, O God, glory to You for everything, glory to You…” the message reads.
On the morning of June 27, around 30 masked individuals stormed the Shirak Diocese headquarters. At the time, Archbishop Ajapahyan was at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for a clergy assembly. Later, he voluntarily appeared before the Investigative Committee and was placed under a two-month detention by court order.
He faces criminal charges for public calls to seize power, violate territorial integrity, renounce sovereignty, or overthrow the constitutional order by force.
