Prosecutor seeks 2.5-year prison term for Armenian archbishop

The prosecution has requested a two-year, six-month prison sentence for Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the leader of the Shirak Diocese, who was recently found guilty of making public calls for the violent seizure of power in Armenia.

At Monday’s court hearing, Ajapahyan’s defense team filed a motion to disqualify presiding judge Armine Meliksetyan, who had delivered the guilty verdict at the previous hearing.

“We believe judge Meliksetyan should recuse herself from this case,” the defense lawyer said.

The prosecutor rejected the motion as groundless and the judge dismissed it accordingly.

The court then moved on to discuss sentencing, with the prosecutor formally demanding that Ajapahyan serve two years and six months in prison.

The final ruling will be issued on October 3.