Authorities probe leaked videos allegedly featuring Armenian archbishop

Armenia's Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation into leaked videos allegedly involving Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The case was opened under Article 204, Part 3(2) of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the violation of privacy through the use of special technical means for secret information gathering, the agency told Panorama.am on Thursday.

Earlier, the Prosecutor General’s Office received a report from the Union of Informed Citizens, alleging a serious breach of the archbishop’s right to privacy. The report was subsequently forwarded to the Investigative Committee for further action.

The intimate videos, which circulated online on the weekend, have sparked criticism from lawyers and human rights activists, who argue that if authentic, they constitute a blatant invasion of privacy.

Responding to the controversy, Archbishop Khachatryan said he found it “reasonable to ignore” the videos.