Head of AAC Shirak Diocese files complaint with ECHR

ArmInfo.  The head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhian, has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human  Rights (ECHR) regarding a violation of his rights guaranteed by the  European Convention on Human Rights.

As reported by Mikael Ajapakhian's legal team, the complaint sets out  facts and arguments concerning unlawful detention (Article 5),  violation of freedom of expression (Article 10), and deprivation of  liberty and the use of criminal prosecution for political purposes  (Article 18).

As a reminder, the Armenian Court of Appeals is expected to publish  its decision on the petition filed by Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhian's  lawyers to overturn his arrest on February 6. Archbishop Mikael  Ajapakhian was found guilty by the court of "public calls for the  overthrow of the government in the country" and sentenced to two  years in prison on October 3, 2025. The cleric denies guilt. The  Armenian Prosecutor General's Office previously petitioned to  reconsider the archbishop's pretrial detention from two years to two  years and six months. Ajapakhian was arrested on June 28, 2025, by  decision of the Yerevan Court of First Instance. It is noteworthy  that these calls were made a year ago and were deemed not to  constitute a crime by the National Security Service of Armenia. The  Armenian public, as well as independent experts, have no doubt that  the persecution of Ajapakhian by the authorities, who have declared  war on the Armenian Apostolic Church, is politically motivated.