Verdict against Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhian evidence of lack of  democracy and justice in Armenia - UAR head 

ArmInfo. The verdict against Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhian is evidence of the lack of democracy and justice in Armenia, a violation of spiritual and moral norms, and is politically motivated. Ara Abrahamyan, head of the Union of Armenians  of Russia, told RIA Novosti.

"The sentencing of Archbishop Ajapakhian, head of the Shirak Diocese  of the Armenian Apostolic Church, to two years is further evidence of  the lack of democracy and fair justice in Armenia, and is a violation  of all spiritual and moral norms. It is clear that the court's  decision, coming just months before parliamentary elections, is  politically motivated and linked to the popularity of the principled  and patriotic archbishop," Abrahamyan told RIA Novosti.

He recalled that the convicted archbishop had refused to serve a  memorial service in the presence of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,  thereby expressing his stance on the latter's policies, including  those regarding the church.

The day before, Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan, Primate of the Shirak  Diocese, was sentenced to two years in prison by Judge Armine  Meliksetyan. After the verdict was announced, citizens gathered in  the courtroom began chanting "Shame, shame." The judge's decision in  the Mother See of Etchmiadzin was called politically motivated.

The archbishop was arrested on June 28 by a decision of the Yerevan  Court of First Instance. The cleric is accused of calling for the  violent overthrow of the government. Moreover, these calls were made  a year ago and were deemed not to constitute a crime by the National  Security Service of Armenia.