YEREVAN. June 27 (Interfax) - A special taskforce of the Armenian National Security Service and police officers on Friday morning entered the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the governing body of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Armenian media are broadcasting the events live.
Earlier in the day, National Security Service officials searched the seat of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Gyumri in northern Armenia.
The Armenian Investigative Committee said a criminal case had been opened against Archbishop Ajapahyan on a count of "calls for a coup and seizure of power."
Archbishop Ajapahyan was in the Etchmiadzin monastery complex on Friday morning, and numerous clerics attempted for some time to bar law enforcement officers from approaching him.
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II spoke to security officials in the monastery courtyard.
National Security Service officials eventually detained Archbishop Ajapahyan and took him away from the monastery.
Speaking to the crowd before his detention, he described the developments as lawless actions.
"Everything that's happening today is unlawful. I am not going to hide behind the backs of my brothers. If they've come for me, I'll go with them. But it's not me who poses a threat to this country but the man who sits in the government office," Archbishop Ajapahyan said, apparently referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Catholicos Karekin II said Archibishop Ajapahyan would be accompanied by defense lawyers, and high-ranking clerics would hold a meeting.
"We'll discuss the situation and make conclusions regarding our further actions. We'll do our utmost to make sure that justice prevails," he said.
As reported, a court in Yerevan ruled recently to take Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the Sacred Struggle protest movement, into pretrial custody for two months. Apart from Archbishop Galstanyan, 15 other people were also arrested.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said earlier on a social network that members and leaders of Sacred Struggle were plotting terrorist attacks and seizure of power in Armenia.
The Investigative Committee said Sacred Struggle leaders and members planned to commit acts of terrorism to seize power in the country.
In 2024, Archbishop Galstanyan announced protests in Yerevan against the Armenian government's policy in the delimitation of borders with Azerbaijan with the blessing of Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II. He also demanded that Pashinyan resign.