The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin responded to inquiries regarding an article republished by Zarkerak and H1, stating that the attributions have no basis in reality.
The Zarkerak article, titled “Ktrich Nersisyan created a brigade of fakes back in 2024,” alleged that a closed Telegram group of priests was formed at the Mother See’s instruction.
“The Church has never needed fake accounts to voice any truth or concern. The Information Department is in constant contact with diocesan press officers and clergy, organizing consultations and thematic discussions as necessary,” the statement read.
Father Yesayi Artenyan, director of the Information Department, confirmed that on September 9, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II visited Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan at the Yerevan-Kentron penitentiary, accompanied by Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, and Bishop Mushegh Babayan, RFE/RL reports.
Artenyan added that the Catholicos had also expressed his wish to visit Archbishops Mikael and Bagrat, as well as philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, but those requests were denied.
“The Mother See strongly condemns the unlawful actions and politically motivated judicial processes against them,” he stated.
Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan faces charges of making public calls to seize power, based on an interview given a year ago in which he spoke of the need for a coup. At that time, prosecutors found no grounds for criminal proceedings. However, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, he repeated the same statement in June 2025. If convicted, he faces a fine or up to five years in prison.
