Yerevan court orders investigative body to launch probe into  obstructing work of lawyers of head of AAC Aragatsotn Diocese 

ArmInfo.The court ordered the Armenian investigative body to open a criminal case based on a complaint filed by Ara Zohrabyan regarding obstructing the work of the lawyers of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and concealing information  about his whereabouts. Zohrabyan reported this on social media.

He recalled that he had previously filed a complaint regarding the  arrest of priests of the Aragatsotn Diocese, obstruction of the  lawyers who had appeared to provide them with legal assistance, and  concealment of the detention of the Primate of the Aragatsotn  Diocese, Archbishop Mkrtich. At that time, the investigator did not  initiate criminal proceedings, and the prosecutor, in rejecting his  complaint, upheld the investigator's position. Now, the Yerevan City  Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction (Judge Tatevik Muradyan),  having upheld the complaint, has decided to obligate the body  handling the case to take a procedural action aimed at eliminating  the violation of the applicant's rights, namely, to initiate a  criminal case based on Ara Zohrabyan's complaint.

In this regard, the lawyer advises investigators, prosecutors, and  judges: "Before selflessly following the orders of your superiors,  remember that everything is temporary and the time will come to  answer before the law. And in matters of the Church, believe that you  will give a stern answer. And secondly, if you are unsure of what to  do (on the one hand, there is an order, on the other, there is your  own conscience), then be guided exclusively by the law."

On October 15, law enforcement officers detained 13 clergy, including  the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, and  three laypersons. Criminal proceedings were initiated against the  three detainees, including the bishop. Bishop Proshyan was arrested.  In addition to the charge of coercing citizens to participate in  meetings, they were charged with "embezzlement of another's property  through abuse of trust, committed on a large scale and using official  position" and "obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights using  official position." The Mother See of Etchmiadzin condemned the  criminal prosecution of the priests of the Aragatsotn Diocese,  calling it an attempt by the authorities to discredit the Church. On  December 15, the court extended their arrest for two months.