Lawyers barred from entering Armenia's Investigative Committee in 'unprecedented' move

In what attorneys are calling an unprecedented development in the past two decades, lawyers were barred from entering the headquarters of Armenia’s Investigative Committee on Wednesday as they attempted to assist detained clergymen.

Attorney Marine Farmanyan said a group of lawyers arrived at the committee to formally take on the defense of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, and several other clerics, but were denied entry.

“This is an unprecedented situation in the last 20 years. We’ve never seen anything like this,” Farmanyan told reporters. “We can’t even access the general office to submit a request for involvement.”

According to Farmanyan, the head of the investigative team, Nazeli Sargsyan, was informed that the lawyers, authorized by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, were ready to represent Bishop Proshyan and, if necessary, other members of the clergy.

Officials told the lawyers that the detained clergymen were currently being questioned as witnesses. However, Farmanyan said they have not been able to meet with Father Paren, one of the detained clerics.

After inquiring about the whereabouts of Bishop Proshyan, the lawyers were asked to leave the building. Sargsyan assured them that once the bishop arrived, investigative procedures would begin and legal representation would not be obstructed.

“However, as you can see, more than two hours have passed and we still have no information on where Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan is,” Farmanyan said. “I called the general office, they didn’t know. The public communications department said the same. Everyone is sitting at their desks, drawing salaries and bonuses, yet no one can tell us where a detained person is. This is the state we’re living in.”

Farmanyan also noted an increasing police presence outside the Investigative Committee building, suggesting that Bishop Proshyan might soon be brought to the premises.