The lawyer of Archbishop Ajapakhyan, who was detained in Armenia, was not allowed to see his client

The lawyer of Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Mihran Hakobyan, who was detained in Armenia, is not allowed to talk to his client. As the lawyer told Izvestia on June 27, he was able to talk a little with the priest only in the morning on a walk.

"I met with him this morning, we talked, we had a morning walk. That is, he expressed a desire for me to be his lawyer, it was unequivocal. Right now, I can't enter because some people are blocking my entry to the suspect," Hakobyan said.

The defender noted that the actions of those who do not allow him to the suspect, committed under the guise of official, violate the human right to protection.

"They are ready to use violence in any circumstances against any person who expresses dissatisfaction with the authorities. They say, "Love us," that is, they impose love on power. This applies not only to journalists, not only to clergy, not only to lawyers — it applies to everyone," the lawyer said.

According to representatives of the opposition movement "Holy Struggle", in the morning, during his detention at the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians in Etchmiadzin, Ajapakhyan became ill."Газета.Ru ".

War for Faith: Armenian security forces tried to detain Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan

Scuffles break out between priests and police at the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians

On the same day, the Investigative Committee of Armenia opened a criminal case after citizens prevented the detention of Archbishop Ajapakhyan. A scuffle was reported between police officers and priests near the residence of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. The security forces tried to detain Ajapakhyan, but the believers and priests did not allow him to be taken away.

On June 26, the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal case under Article 422 ("Public calls for the violent overthrow of power") against Archbishop Ajapakhyan. The reason was the archbishop's public statements about the political situation in the country.