Video recordings examined at court hearing on the case of the brother and nephew of the Catholicos of All Armenians


Attorney Emin Khachatryan drew the court's attention to the factual inconsistencies underlying the accusation. According to the attorney, the prosecution claims that the Nersisyans' car was spotted in the center of the Voskehat village during the campaign, but video footage proves that the car was parked in the yard of the house the entire time. The next hearing, which will take place on March 23, is scheduled to question Gevorg and Hambardzum Nersisyans.

The Supreme Spiritual Council condemns the authorities' arbitrary, discriminatory actions


On March 10-13, a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council was convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the chairmanship of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the agenda of which included the issue of convening a church-representative meeting to be held in September. At the end of the three-day work, a statement was published in which the council condemned the arbitrary, discriminatory actions of the authorities, the persecution of the Armenian Church and clergy, the use of state levers to hinder the activities of the Church, and attempts to illegally interfere in church life.

There is no illegal element in the intercepted conversations in the Holy Struggle case


At the court hearing in the Sacred Struggle case, the defense team recorded that in the wiretapped conversations, the struggle members talked about organizing peaceful protests. Hovhannes Khudoyan emphasized that the struggle members discussed that the issue should be resolved politically in parliament. The defense team announced that they are going to request an investigation into the recordings published by the Investigative Committee to substantiate the purpose of spreading false information and discrediting the struggle members.

 

The court is applying an unfair approach to the participants of the Holy Struggle. Archbishop Bagrat


By the court’s decision, Karo Okumushyan’s house arrest has been extended for another 3 months. The defense lawyers stated that he is the driver of MP Artur Sargsyan and is involved in the struggle only due to his work activities. However, the court did not take these circumstances into account. At the end of the hearing, Archbishop Bagrat stated that an unfair and unfair approach is being applied to the members of the struggle.

 

Defense attorney in the “Holy Struggle” case filed a report on data falsification


Hovhannes Khudoyan filed a report to the Prosecutor General regarding data falsification, falsification of evidence during criminal proceedings, and the use of this false evidence. According to him, months ago he had informed the prosecutor’s office about the falsification of the evidence regarding the “gunshot” incident, which had received widespread criticism, by presenting the real story. The prosecutor’s office was given the opportunity to ensure the process of holding the falsified individuals accountable before the evidence examination stage. However, according to the lawyer, the prosecutors not only did not proceed with the matter, but also continued to circulate the false evidence in recent court hearings.
 

Clergy members of the Supreme Spiritual Council have been summoned for questioning as defendants


Criminal cases have been initiated against the bishops, they are accused of obstructing the execution of a judicial act. And the judicial act concerns the lawsuit of the former leader of Masyatsotn, Arman Saroyan, who was declared a canon. The court, examining his lawsuit with lightning speed, decided that in order to stop Arman Saroyan’s “mental suffering”, a measure of securing his lawsuit should be immediately applied. And the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, who spoke in favor of the excommunication of the former bishop, obstructed the execution of the judicial act.

 

Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan’s Detention Extended for Another 2 Months


The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction has extended the detention of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan for another two months. Archbishop Arshak was detained on December 5 for a two-month period. A criminal case has been opened against him on suspicion of illegal drug trafficking, according to which he ordered a protester to “plant” drugs in his bag in 2018. The defense continues to insist that the accusation is fabricated and not substantiated by any factual evidence.
 

Defense lawyers petition to release Vahagn Chakhalyan from custody


The defense has submitted to the court the issue of changing Vahagn Chakhalyan's preventive measure, considering it legitimate to release him from custody, following the example of the other defendants in the case. Of the 18 defendants in this case, only Vahagn Chakhalyan and Bagrat Srbazan remain in custody, while other preventive measures have been applied to other members of the struggle.
 

Harutyun Mkrtchyan's testimony contradicts the testimony of witnesses in the case. Lawyer


The court hearing in the case of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II's brother, Gevorg Nersisyan, and his son, Hambardzum Nersisyan, took place. They were arrested on charges of allegedly obstructing election campaigning during the election campaign in the Vagharshapat community. The defense is convinced that the absence of a crime and the numerous pieces of evidence in the case materials indicate that the criminal prosecution of Gevorg and Hambardzum Nersisyan is unfounded. The interrogation of witness Harutyun Mkrtchyan will continue on February 17.
 

The authorities violate the presumption of innocence of the members of the "Holy Struggle". Lawyer


At the court hearing in the "Holy Struggle" case, lawyer Hovhannes Khudoyan described the statements made by the ruling party in the National Assembly as a violation of the presumption of innocence and political pressure on the judicial process. During the hearing, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan stated that the authorities are targeting them. The issues of changing the measures of restraint for the members of the "Holy Struggle" will be discussed from the next hearing.
 

Bishops’ Assembly launches in St. Pölten, Austria


The Bishops’ Assembly is attended by twenty-five archbishops and bishops of the Catholicosate of All Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, including those from the Armenian Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople. His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Nourhan Manukyan, and the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan, addressed the congregation with their fatherly words and messages.

Court Replaces Arrest of Brother and Nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians with House Arrest


The Armavir Regional Court of First Instance has lifted the arrest imposed on the brother of the Catholicos of All Armenians, Gevorg Nersisyan, and nephew, Hambardzum Nersisyan, and has imposed alternative measures of restraint: house arrest, a 1 million dram bail, and a ban on absence. The key basis for the court’s decision was the defense team’s arguments that all important witnesses in the criminal case have already been questioned, and the fact that the defendants are at large cannot hinder the investigation of the case.