The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia has announced that an arrest warrant has been issued for Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, the head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, within the framework of a criminal case. The NSS has called on him to “not hide” and to “appear before the law enforcers awaiting him.”

According to the statement, during the preliminary investigation of a criminal case led by the General Department for Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee, a decision was made to launch public prosecution against Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan (Gevorg Artashes Ajapahyan) under Part 2 of Article 422 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. He is accused of making public statements through mass media and digital technologies that allegedly called for the seizure of power and the violent overthrow of the constitutional order.

As a result, on June 27, 2025, a decision was made to arrest Archbishop Ajapahyan for the purpose of submitting a detention request to the court. The NSS has been tasked with executing this decision.

The NSS urged all citizens to refrain from escalating the situation and to not obstruct the lawful actions of law enforcement agencies. They again called on Archbishop Ajapahyan “to stop evading authorities and surrender to the operational group assigned to detain him.”

The NSS has reportedly broken the window of the guard post at the Catholicosate and entered the premises.

Earlier in the morning, around 30 masked individuals stormed the Shirak Diocese headquarters, according to lawyer Mihran Poghosyan. Archbishop Ajapahyan, however, is currently at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. A clergy assembly was scheduled there on June 27. NSS personnel are present at the Mother See and may be preparing to search the Catholicos’ residence. Former head of the Chamber of Advocates, Ara Zohrabyan, reported that a criminal case has been initiated against Ajapahyan and a defense group of lawyers is being formed.