The trial against Karekin II mobilized his supporters.
Judge Akop Manukyan recused himself at the first hearing of the criminal case against the Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II and six hierarchs. The Catholicos, two archbishops, and four bishops are accused of obstructing the execution of a judicial act.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", in February, the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia initiated criminal proceedings against the Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II regarding the obstruction of the execution of a judicial act related to the defrocked archbishop Gevorg Saroyan. The Catholicos is banned from leaving the country. The purpose of the criminal prosecution of Karekin II was to disrupt the meeting of the bishops, the lawyer suggested.
The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church Karekin II personally attended the court session in Echmiadzin. He and six members of the Supreme Spiritual Council are accused of obstructing the execution of a judicial act related to the case of the former head of the Masyatsots Diocese Gevorg Saroyan. Among the accused are archbishops Nathan Ovanisyan and Aikazun Najaryan, bishops Mushag Babayan, Ovnan Akopyan, Makar Akopyan, and Vaan Ovanisyan.
A large number of people gathered outside the courthouse before the session began, expressing support for the Catholicos. When Karekin II arrived at the court, he was greeted with applause and shouts of "Patriarch," reports News.am.
After the session, lawyer Ara Zograbyan told reporters that the defense considers the criminal prosecution to be state interference in the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church, informs "News-Armenia".
"The Catholicos and the clergy are accused in the matter of exercising their canonical powers. That is, the state, represented by the investigative body, the prosecutor's office, and the court, has intruded into the internal life of the church. This is prohibited by both laws and international law," the lawyer said.
After the session, those gathered outside the courthouse, along with the head of the AAC, marched to the Echmiadzin Cathedral, where they held a joint prayer.
The criminal case against Karekin II and the summons to court are "unprecedented even for Bolshevik power," said Archbishop Nathan Ovanisyan in a conversation with reporters after the court session. The archbishop emphasized that the head of the Armenian church has never stood trial since the Seljuk era. According to the archbishop, the authorities' goal was to prevent the convening of the Episcopal Council in Austria.
When the procession arrived at the cathedral, the patriarch addressed those gathered. He stated that the authorities and state structures are taking steps aimed at undermining the authority of the church, limiting its autonomy, and subordinating it to their will.
"We are full of faith and determination to defend our legitimate rights, guaranteed by both the Constitution of our state and the fundamental principles of international law," said the Catholicos.
Karekin II urged to maintain sobriety and prudence, not to succumb to provocations, and to remain steadfast, "with faith, love, and hope." "We believe that our Holy Church, by God's grace and through the devotion and love of our people, will overcome these difficulties and achieve new successes on its mission," he noted.
The conflict between the authorities of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Church has been ongoing since 2018, when Pashinyan came to power. This conflict became evident against the backdrop of the Karabakh war of 2020 and the authorities' desire to establish relations with Turkey, analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" pointed out.
In May 2025, Nikol Pashinyan sharply criticized the church, and in response to the objections of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, he replied with insults on Facebook*. Armenian politicians and church representatives demanded that Pashinyan apologize for the insults to the church.
More about the persecution of political opponents of the current authorities of Armenia can be read in the "Caucasian Knot" reference "Main points on political arrests in Armenia in the summer of 2025".