Artur Vanetsyan extends birthday greetings to Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan

Homeland Party leader Artur Vanetsyan on Saturday extended birthday greetings to Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese, who is currently hospitalized.

Vanetsyan shared a photo on Facebook of himself with the archbishop taken during a protest, writing: “Heartfelt congratulations to His Grace Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan on his birthday. I wish the Holy Father robust health and victory. May God protect you. Freedom to political prisoners!”

Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan has been sentenced to 1.5 years in prison over remarks he made during an interview. He was recently transferred from the National Security Service detention center to the Izmirlian Medical Center, where he underwent surgery on Friday.

On Saturday, a large group of people gathered outside the hospital to offer birthday greetings to the archbishop.