LIVE: Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan holds press conference

A press conference by Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, has started at the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Matenadaran in Etchmiadzin.

The archbishop began the briefing by reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

The appearance comes after the circulation of intimate videos online, allegedly showing the cleric in a bathroom. Armenia’s Investigative Committee later confirmed that forensic video and image analysis had verified Khachatryan as the person depicted in the footage. The archbishop has since been summoned by the law enforcement agency.

His legal team, however, has rejected the findings. Lawyer Arsen Babayan says the archbishop “has reaffirms his position that investigative bodies acting on the political instructions of the current authorities cannot be trusted” and will therefore refuse to appear at the Investigative Committee to review what he described as a “decision and conclusion devoid of objectivity from the outset”.

“I have unintentionally found myself at the center of recent developments. Given this, I would like to offer clarification regarding the discussions and comments about these events, ensuring the public has an accurate understanding of my views and position," Khachatryan said.