Armenian security forces detained Archbishop Ajapahyan

The police of Armenia detained the head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, reports Sputnik Armenia.

A video of the moment of Ajapahyan's detention has spread on the Internet.

As seen in the footage, the archbishop himself made the decision to go out to law enforcement representatives, after which he was immediately detained.

The Prime Minister of Armenia subsequently made a loud statement about preventing an attempted coup. It is worth noting that Bagrat Galstanyan led mass protests against the transfer of territories last year and persistently demanded the resignation of the head of government. The accusations are based on a document published in the media, allegedly describing a "coup plan." However, according to the defenders' statements, the investigative authorities do not have material evidence.

It is important to recall that in Armenia, a severe conflict is unfolding between Prime Minister Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church. The head of government made a resonant statement that the temples in the country are "filled with all kinds of garbage," accused bishops of violating the vow of celibacy, and even claimed that the Supreme Patriarch Catholicos Garegin II has a child. In response to these statements, large-scale riots broke out in Armenia. One of the key organizers of the protests, well-known businessman Samvel Karapetyan, was taken into custody. The rest of the activists were given unambiguous threats of imprisonment.

On June 27, special units of the National Security Service of Armenia entered the territory of the Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Etchmiadzin. A clash occurred between police officers and clergy in the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, after which the Catholicos himself went out to the representatives of the security forces.