In central Moscow, outside the Armenian Embassy in Russia, a group of demonstrators staged a protest chanting “Nikol, traitor” and “Nikol, enemy,” Sputnik Armenia reported, citing Russian Telegram channels.
Protesters voiced anger over actions against the Armenian Apostolic Church and the imprisonment of Shirak Diocese head Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan and Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan.
They also condemned a guilty verdict recently delivered against Archbishop Mikael.
“We pray that God protects and strengthens Archbishop Mikael, Archbishop Bagrat, benefactor Samvel Karapetyan, and all those unlawfully imprisoned,” one clergyman participating in the protest said.
The rally coincided with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Moscow, where he is attending the Global Atomic Week conference.
Pashinyan last met Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 31, 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China.
