Judges abandon case against Catholicos of All Armenians and Archbishops

Judge Serge Rushanyan in Armenia refused to hold a hearing on the case of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II behind closed doors.

On August 28, defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, on the basis of whose testimony a criminal case was opened against Garegin II and six bishops, demanded a closed court session, RIA Novosti reports.

"The court considers that there are no grounds for holding a closed session, and rejects Saroyan's petition," the judge said, announcing the decision.

He also allowed photo and video filming of the meeting.

News.am In turn, he emphasizes that the second judge has already abandoned the case against Garegin II. Judge Serge Rushanyan decided to transfer the case against the Catholicos of All Armenians and six bishops to Yerevan City Criminal Court of the First Instance of General jurisdiction for its consideration and determination of the expediency of considering this case in the Armavir court. The parties objected, but the judge insisted on his own.

Earlier, Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself from this case.

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has opened a criminal case after Garegin II's decision to defrocket Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, who supported the authorities of the republic in the conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church. The case was opened under the articles "Non-execution of a judicial act or obstruction of its execution" and "Inducement to non-execution of a judicial act". In particular, the UK claims that the court in Armenia forbade the Armenian Apostolic Church to "prevent Bishop Saroyan from exercising his powers as the leader of the Masyatsotn diocese."

Together with the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, six other members of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church are being investigated. The defense states that the State cannot determine whether a particular person, regardless of the decision of the supreme canonical authority of the church, should continue to be considered a bishop, otherwise it would be an appropriation of the authority to make a final decision on the issue of spiritual status and illegal interference in the affairs of the church.

On August 27, the Armenian Apostolic Church declared that the charge brought against Garegin II and six bishops is illegal interference in the internal life of the church. The AAC stated that the rights of the Catholicos of all Armenians and bishops should be immediately restored, and the illegal criminal prosecution against them should be stopped.