Armenian archbishop's detention extended by two months

A Yerevan court has extended the pre-trial detention of Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, by two more months.

Presiding judge Karen Farkhoyan issued the ruling at a closed court hearing on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, his attorney Arsen Babayan said the outcome was expected. He added that visitation rights remain restricted, although a defianse request allowing visits by the children of the archbishop’s sister was approved.

Babayan announced plans to appeal the decision in higher court. He described the case as part of the ongoing pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church and longstanding illegal actions against the cleric.

Arshak Khachatryan was arrested on 4 December and placed in detention on 5 December 2025 for an initial two-month period.

He is accused of allegedly planting drugs in the bag of a participant in a 2018 protest against Catholicos Karekin II, with investigators claiming the act was intended to discredit the protester.

The senior cleric has denied any wrongdoing, calling the charges politically motivated.