Lawyer: Trial of Catholicos of All Armenians illegitimate and  contradicts ECHR ruling

ArmInfo.The criminal prosecution of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II is illegal and contradicts the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which holds that the state has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of the Church. This was stated by lawyer Armine Fanyan on  August 28 outside the courthouse in Etchmiadzin, where the second hearing in the criminal case against the Catholicos of All Armenians  and six bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) is about to begin.

She recalled that this criminal proceeding falls under the exclusive  jurisdiction of Karekin II. "The Catholicos of All Armenians made a  decision within his jurisdiction, and the authorities are attempting  to interfere with its implementation through criminal means," Fanyan  explained.

The lawyer noted that she has never encountered a similar precedent  in Armenian history, specifically, a criminal case brought against  the Catholicos of All Armenians. "This entire process is  illegitimate.  Moreover, there is an ECHR decision that clearly  states that the state cannot interfere in the affairs of any  religious organization. Meanwhile, in our case, the state is  violating these boundaries," the lawyer noted.

Considering the previous judge's recusal, Fanyan noted that it is  impossible to predict how the new judge will proceed, as, in her  words, this is a very sensitive matter. "I cannot yet say what  decision the current judge will make in this case. Nor can I comment  on the validity of the previous judge's decision. However, I  specifically welcome this step. Although, of course, it would have  been better if he had not simply recused himself, but had also  acquitted the Catholicos and dropped the criminal prosecution," the  lawyer noted.

She also reiterated that Karekin II will not be present at this  hearing.

As a reminder, since May 2025, the Armenian authorities have launched  an active anti-church policy and are seeking the resignation of  Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, who is elected to this  position for life. This campaign has targeted both clergy and  citizens who support the Church. In February of this year, the  Armenian Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal case against  Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, and he is banned from leaving  the country. The case was opened on charges of obstructing the  execution of a judicial decision related to the defrocking of Arman  Saroyan. Khachatur Galstyan was appointed prosecutor in the criminal  case. Several other high-ranking clergy are also involved in the  case. On August 7, Judge Hakob Manukyan, who was scheduled to preside  over the first hearing in the case of the Catholicos of All Armenians  and six bishops, recused himself. The case was subsequently assigned  to Judge Serzh Rushanyan. The preliminary hearing in the criminal  case against the Catholicos of All Armenians and six bishops took  place on August 28, 2026, at 4:30 PM at the Vagharshapat Courthouse  in Etchmiadzin.