Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) announced it has decided to withdraw from the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. According to an official statement, this step was taken to avoid potential or intentional escalation during the attempt to arrest Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan on June 27, 2025.

"Today, on June 27, 2025, during the operation to arrest Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan (Gevorg Artashes Ajapahyan) at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, a crowd of citizens gathered. To avoid further escalation—whether spontaneous or premeditated—the National Security Service and the police of the Republic of Armenia have decided to withdraw from the premises of the Holy See," the NSS said.

The NSS urged citizens to refrain from actions that could aggravate the situation and to avoid obstructing lawful decisions by law enforcement. The agency also called on Archbishop Ajapahyan to “stop evading authorities and present himself to the awaiting NSS task force.”

"The National Security Service will continue fulfilling its legal duties to ensure public order and safety. Any obstruction to law enforcement actions will be subject to legal scrutiny," the statement concluded.

Earlier, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan of the Shirak Diocese stated in the courtyard of the Mother See that he was not hiding and had no intention of doing so, affirming his willingness to go with law enforcement. Despite this, after a brief interaction with the authorities and amid a scuffle between clergy and police, Ajapahyan later returned to the Catholicosate.