Armenian student detained for two months after church incident involving Pashinyan

An 18-year-old Armenian student, David Minasyan, has been ordered into two months of pre-trial detention following an incident at a church service attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Sunday, his lawyer said.

The decision was issued by judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan of the Yerevan Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction on Wednesday, granting a motion filed by investigators.

Minasyan was detained after an altercation during a Palm Sunday mass at St. Anna Church in Yerevan, which occurred after Pashinyan, members of the ruling Civil Contract party and security personnel entered the church.

“Our hopes were shattered,” attorney Armen Melkonyan said, criticizing the ruling as disproportionate given that his client is a 12th-grade student. He announced plans to appeal the detention order.

The young man has been charged with hooliganism and interfering with the lawful activities of a public official. His twin brother and another man are also facing charges in connection with the incident.

Minasyan will be transferred to the Armavir Penitentiary. His brother, Mikayel, has been released under travel restrictions pending further proceedings.