Catholicos Karekin II faces historic criminal trial in Armenia

Armenia’s Prosecutor General has referred Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, to criminal court – the first time a church leader has been tried in the country’s modern history. The charges allege that Karekin II and five senior clergy members deliberately obstructed a court order to reinstate Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, who was dismissed after supporting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s church‑reform agenda. The accused officials – Archbishops Nathan Hovhannisyan and Haykazun Najaryan and Bishops Vahan Hovhannesyan, Edgar Hakobyan and Artur Hakobyan – were also placed under a travel ban, which was later lifted.

The case reflects a deepening clash between the Pashinyan government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, which has faced multiple criminal investigations of senior clergy in recent years. Authorities say the dispute is about enforcing a lawful court decision rather than theological matters, while observers note the prosecutions are increasingly used to target figures opposing the government.