The rapid response team from the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia has visited the Investigative Committee (IC) to assess the situation regarding the protection of rights of detained clergy members and to examine the legal grounds for their detention, according to a statement from the Ombudsman’s Office.
“On October 15, as a result of monitoring media outlets and social networks, the Ombudsman’s Office received information that several clergymen from the Armenian Apostolic Church had been taken into custody. A lawyer also called the Office’s hotline regarding the incident. Based on the Ombudsman’s instructions, the rapid response team visited the Investigative Committee to investigate the conditions of detention and legal grounds on-site,” the statement reads.
The Ombudsman’s Office noted it will continue monitoring the situation and assess potential violations of the rights of the detained individuals within the limits of its authority.
According to RFE/RL, attorneys Marine Farmanyan and Ara Zohrabyan, who are representing the clergy, reported that they were not allowed to enter the Investigative Committee’s division where the clergymen from the Aragatsotn Diocese are being held.
The lawyers stated that although the clergymen were forcibly brought in, they are officially considered witnesses at the IC. Despite having authorization from the Mother See to represent the clergy’s interests, the lawyers were denied entry. A complaint regarding obstruction of their access to the IC has been filed with the police.
Previously, attorney Ara Zohrabyan had reported that six clergymen from the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church had been brought in: Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, and priests Father Paren, Father Manuk, Father Hayk, Father Ghevond, and Father Mkrtich. The IC confirmed this, explaining that necessary investigative and evidentiary actions were being carried out as part of an ongoing criminal case.
Later, the Union of Informed Citizens issued a statement clarifying that they had called for an investigation into comments made by Father Aram, who had claimed clergy were coerced into participating in a gathering.
