Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan marches to Investigative Committee building with his supporters

YEREVAN, June 27. /ARKA/. Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan will go to the Investigative Committee himself, his lawyer Ara Zohrabyan told reporters on Friday.

His remarks came after security officers tried unsuccessfully to detain the archbishop critical of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. He  stands accused of making “public calls for the seizure of power and violent overthrow of the constitutional order.

“We will appear at the Investigative Committee ourselves to take part in the investigative proceedings,” Zohrabyan said.

Ajapahyan asked those gathered, who had previously prevented his arrest, to allow him to appear at the Investigative Committee.

"The proceedings were initiated on the 17th of June. They (law-enforcers) could have easily detained me in the following days. They consciously or unconsciously did not do so," Ajapakhian said.

According to him, “they” decided to do so in Holy Etchmiadzin, but then backed down. However, the archbishop did not specify who he was referring to.

“I do not take back my words. We are going to the Investigative Committee to talk,” Ajapahyan said.

He stated that he was ready for any turn of events, even arrest. “The main goal of the clergy is to win this battle. I am not hiding behind your backs,” he said.

Those gathered in Etchmiadzin decided to accompany him to the Investigative Committee in a procession.

According to the National Security Service, Ajapahyan is accused of publicly calling for the seizure of power and the violent overthrow of the constitutional orde.

Earlier on Friday, the Armenian National Security Service announced its decision to detain Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and called on him not to hide.-0-