Ara Zohrabyan  appealed to Armenia`s Investigative Committee,  demanding a meeting with the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese

ArmInfo.Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan has appealed to the Investigative Committee of Armenia, demanding a meeting with the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Mkrtich  Proshyan. Zohrabyan shared this information in a conversation with  journalists outside the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

He emphasized once again that it has been impossible to determine  Mkrtich Proshyan's whereabouts since his arrest, and these actions by  law enforcement officers fall under Article 451 of the Criminal Code  of Armenia, related to enforced disappearance. Zohrabyan noted that  this is a rather serious charge and stated that he has already  submitted a report to the Investigative Committee regarding this  matter, as all of his attempts to meet with the clergyman have been  unsuccessful. He also stated that the other five previously detained  diocesan clergymen are currently in the Yerevan Investigative  Department building and have the status of witness.

According to him, the criminal case is related to the testimony of  the former spiritual abbot of the Hovhannavan Monastery, Father Aram  Arakelyan, about coercion to hold meetings, as well as certain  financial matters. "The report was submitted by Daniel Ioannisyan,  founder of the 'Union of Informed Citizens' NGO. This entire process  fits into the anti-church logic. This is another pressure on the  Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC)," Zohrabyan added.  In turn, Kima  Avdalyan, press secretary for the Investigative Committee of Armenia,  told ArmInfo that necessary procedural and evidentiary actions are  being carried out as part of the preliminary investigation of the  criminal case. "The case was initiated on the fact of obstructing or  coercing someone to hold or participate in a meeting through the  abuse of power, public office or influence derived from them, as well  as for the purpose of stimulating material interest in participating  or refusing to participate in the meeting," Avdalyan said.

In turn, Daniel Ionesyan confirmed the fact of filing a crime   complaint with the investigative body on his Facebook page. He  emphasized that the complaint was based on an  interview on September  16 with Armenia's Public TV by Father Aram Arakelyan, the former  spiritual pastor of the Hovhannavan Monastery. Arakelyan claimed that  he was allegedly forced to participate in opposition rallies in 2021.