Criminal case targets Church for defying court ruling

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Investigative Committee of Armenia has launched a criminal case against the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) for failure to comply with a court decision regarding defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan (Arman Saroyan), the former leader of the Diocese of Masis.

According to reports, the Armavir General Jurisdiction Court issued an enforcement writ on January 16, 2026, prohibiting the AAC and other individuals from taking any actions that could obstruct Bishop Saroyan from exercising his rights and duties as diocesan leader under Article 68 of the Church’s charter and other governing regulations. This included managing diocesan finances and executing financial transactions until a final verdict was rendered.

Based on this ruling, an enforcement proceeding was initiated at the Compulsory Enforcement Service, which issued a decision on January 19, 2026, obliging the Church to perform or refrain from specific actions. The decision was personally delivered to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin’s Chancellery.

However, despite the legal constraints, the Supreme Spiritual Council declared Bishop Gevorg Saroyan defrocked by patriarchal decree on January 27, 2026.

Given the report’s allegations that certain AAC officials used their official powers and influence to obstruct enforcement of a legally binding court order, the General Department for Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on January 29, 2026, under Article 507, Part 2 and Article 46-507, Part 2 of the Criminal Code.

“Investigative and evidentiary actions are currently underway,” the statement reads.