Court orders release of Armenian Church chancellery head
An appeals court in Yerevan has overturned the archbishop’s detention in a case widely described as politically motivated.
On March 5, 2026, Armenia’s Court of Appeal ordered the release of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, head of the Armenian Church’s chancellery. The archbishop’s lawyer, Arsen Babayan, announced the decision on Facebook.
The attorney confirmed that his client had been released, while also saying he opposed the imposition of any other restrictions.
Archbishop Khachatryan was arrested on December 5, 2025, on charges that the Church and opposition figures have described as absurd and politically motivated. Clergy believe the criminal case is being driven by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who they say is seeking, through pressure on those around him, to force the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.
Other bishops of the Armenian Church also remain under judicial pressure.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that bishops of the Armenian Church had called on the authorities to stop persecuting the Church.
