A fourth senior cleric of the Armenian Church has been arrested since the start of the conflict between the state authorities represented by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II. The officially stated reason is suspicion of illegal drug trafficking. He was detained yesterday, December 4, at the Investigative Committee for a period of two months. The archbishop was summoned there for questioning in connection with a video clip posted online, but after the end of the interrogation he was arrested. The video clip became public not long ago, but the senior cleric denies his presence in it. However, a church investigation has been initiated against him for violating the vow of celibacy.
Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan holds a high position in the Armenian Church – he is a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council, chairman of the Legal Advisory Committee, and a member of the Committee for Awarding Awards and Disciplinary Issues.
Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II made a statement in which he stated: “In the difficult situation prevailing in the homeland, the anti-church policy adopted by the authorities, which have taken illegal steps and repressions against high-ranking clergy, is also extremely alarming. You know that three hierarchs, a great national benefactor and other sons of Armenia are in prison. Today we learned that another cleric, Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, has been arrested and taken to prison. However, we are filled with hope that this ordeal will be overcome and these malicious encroachments will be neutralized.”
We acknowledge The European Times for the information.
