Armenian bishop reported missing after detention

The whereabouts of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, the leader of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, are currently unknown following his detention by law enforcement officials, according to his lawyer.

Speaking to Panorama.am on Wednesday, lawyer Marine Farmanyan said that the bishop was taken away by investigators following a search of his home.

“After the search concluded, Bishop Mkrtich was placed in a car apparently to be taken to the Investigative Committee headquarters, yet he has not arrived there. It has now been an hour and a half,” Farmanyan said.

She added that even the head of the investigative team “does not know where the bishop is” and that a complaint has been filed with Armenia’s ombudsperson. The legal team also plans to contact the police.

Earlier reports suggested that several senior clerics from the Aragatsotn Diocese had been detained as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.