Lawyers representing Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan have submitted an appeal to overturn the ruling of the Court of First Instance, seeking his full acquittal, according to Factor.am .
“Today, on November 13, 2025, the defense team of His Grace Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan filed an appeal against the October 3, 2025, verdict issued by Judge Armine Meliksetyan of the Court of First Instance (received by the defense on October 15, 2025). The attorneys requested a complete annulment of the verdict and a new judicial act proclaiming the full innocence of His Grace Mikayel (Gevorg) Artashes Ajapahyan,” the statement reads.
The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against Archbishop Ajapahyan on June 17, 2025, in connection with a 2024 interview he had given. Prior to that, since June, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had publicly criticized members of the clergy. On June 26, authorities decided to initiate public criminal prosecution against Ajapahyan.
The next day, June 27, law enforcement officers visited the Shirak Diocese headquarters to conduct a search and then proceeded to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to detain the cleric. However, at that time, they failed to take him into custody due to resistance from gathered citizens. Eventually, Ajapahyan left the Mother See, participated in a march, and then voluntarily appeared at the Investigative Committee, where he was charged with “inciting to seize power” and a motion for detention was filed.
Judge Masis Melkonyan of the Yerevan court decided to detain Ajapahyan for two months. Before the detention period expired, the case was submitted to court for substantive review. Judge Armine Meliksetyan conducted nearly daily sessions and concluded the proceedings in record time, sentencing him to two years in prison.
The court found Ajapahyan guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison. Public prosecutors had requested a 2.5-year sentence. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office also filed an appeal demanding a harsher penalty.
