Father Aram Asatryan, pastor of Hovhannavank, has been questioned by investigators, according to Investigative Committee spokesperson Kima Avdalyan, reports Factor.am .
He was interrogated as part of a criminal case launched on charges related to using official or influential authority to prevent or force participation in gatherings, or to provide material incentives to attend or avoid such events.
The Investigative Committee did not specify whether the questioning occurred before or after recent searches at the Aragatsotn Diocese.
Father Aram is currently in Yerevan, not at Hovhannavank. Notably, he previously stated on Armenian Public TV that he had attended nearly all opposition protests in 2021—but not by choice.
“There was an order to attend every rally. If I didn’t go, there would be problems. I’d have to explain myself—why I wasn’t going. That would imply I had political views. That was the directive from above at the time,” said Father Aram.
His statement prompted the Union of Informed Citizens NGO to file a report with the Investigative Committee, which subsequently launched a criminal investigation.
The Investigative Committee has conducted searches at the Aragatsotn Diocese headquarters and at the homes of several clergy, seizing computers, documents, and other items. A number of priests were detained, and Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, head of the Diocese, has been placed in two-month pretrial detention. He is a nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.
