Law enforcement conducts searches and arrests in Armenia’s Aragatsotn Eparchy
Bishop and 12 priests of the eparchy detained – Etchmiadzin calls it part of a campaign against the Church.
On October 15, 2025, searches and arrests were conducted in the Aragatsotn Eparchy of Armenia. Investigative actions took place in the eparchial administration, as well as in the homes of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, several priests, and staff members, reports Armenia Today.
According to the Church, the head of the diocese and 12 clergymen, as well as several diocese employees, were detained. For several hours, their whereabouts were not disclosed, and they were not provided with legal assistance. In Etchmiadzin, the events were seen as part of an anti-church campaign aimed at undermining the Church's authority and intimidating the clergy.
The statement notes that "persecutions characteristic of totalitarian systems violate the right to freedom of religion and deepen societal division." Etchmiadzin urged the clergy and believers not to succumb to provocations and to maintain unity.
The Investigative Committee of Armenia confirmed that searches and arrests are being conducted as part of a criminal case regarding possible pressure on clergymen to participate in rallies. Amid the events, a sharp confrontation between the country's authorities and Etchmiadzin continues.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a bishop of the Armenian Church was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment by the court.
