Police have set up enhanced control at the entrance to the road leading from Yerevan to the city of Etchmiatzin, stopping selected vehicles and checking their trunks before allowing them to proceed, reports RFE/RL.

Since morning, a large number of security forces had gathered at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatzin. Officers from the National Security Service (NSS) and the police arrived early to detain Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan of the Shirak Diocese. The archbishop declared that he had no reason to hide. Following a scuffle, he returned to the Catholicosate. For several hours, those gathered at the site attempted to prevent his removal.

Later, it was announced that the NSS had decided to withdraw from the premises of the Mother See.

"The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia urges all citizens to refrain from escalating the situation and to not obstruct the lawful execution of law enforcement decisions. We call on Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan (Gevorg Artashes Ajapahyan) not to hide from the authorities and to present himself to the awaiting NSS operative group," the agency stated.