Prosecutors Mount Criminal Case Against Catholicos Karekin II, Bar Him from Leaving Armenia

Holy See of Etchmiadzin Condemns the Prosecutor’s Actions

Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s office on Saturday opened a criminal case against His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and barred him from leaving the country two days ahead of a Bishops’ Synod scheduled to take place in Vienna.

“The prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal case against the Catholicos of All Armenians, and the investigator has attempted to question His Holiness,” said attorney Ara Zohrabyan.

Zohrabyan explained that the Catholicos is accused of obstructing the execution of a judicial act, a case in which six high-ranking clergymen of the church were charged weeks ago, thus making it impossible for them to participate in the Vienna conference.

“This is direct interference in the internal affairs of the church. The Bishops’ Conference was to be held in Austria on February 16-19, and with this action, as well as by prohibiting His Holiness from leaving, he is hindering the holding of the Bishops’ Conference as a preventive measure,” the Zohrabyan.

The attorney said that the prosecutors are accusing the Catholicos of obstructing the execution of a court ruling related to Arman Saroyan (former head of Masyatsotn Diocese), who was one of 10 bishops who joined Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s almost year-long crusade against the church. The Catholicos had dismissed him, but a court had compelled the pontiff to reinstate the ousted archbishop. However, the Mother See did not reinstate him and dismissed him, declaring that these issues are not within the jurisdiction of the court, and was an interference in the autonomy of the church. Investigators considered this obstruction of the justice.

The prosecutor’s office is currently refusing to provide any information. The Mother See has not yet made a statement, and the fate of the Austrian conference remains uncertain at this time.

Zohrabyan strongly criticized the action, calling it a historically shameful move by the authorities. As of now, officials have not publicly provided detailed clarification regarding the reported travel restriction or the legal basis of the case.

This unprecedented move by Armenian authorities comes a day after Pashinyan stated that the reason the Bishops’ Synod was being held in Vienna was because they wanted to relocate the Catholicosate and take its treasures outside of Armenia.

Pashinyan said, convening the meeting of bishops outside Armenia is part of a process aimed at strengthening what he described as a “puppet Catholicosate” in the hands of certain forces, to be used as a tool against Armenia.

“I will not allow this. Armenia is not going to remain an observer. The reaction will be very tough. We will redirect the attention of those who have their eyes on the treasures of Etchmiadzin, hidden under the mask of benefactors, in a completely different direction. If additional measures are needed, they will be taken,” Pashinyan warned.

The prime minister made the threats in response to a statement issued by eight prominent members of the Armenian communities in the United States and Europe who denounced Pashinian’s continuing attempts to depose the Catholicos.

The signatories include four wealthy businessmen and philanthropists — Noubar Afeyan, Vatche Manoukian, Vahe Gabrache and Joseph Oughourlian — as well as British-Armenian surgeon Ara Darzi, Armenian-American physician Eric Esrailian, former Armenian Assembly of America Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian and Berge Setrakian, the former president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union.

They said that Pashinyan’s campaign against the church poses “direct threats to all Armenians around the world” and could cut the Armenian government’s ties with the Diaspora. They stressed that the church branches in and outside Armenia continue recognize Karekin II as their “global leader.”

The Holy See of Etchmiadzin condemned the prosecution’s actions, saying the state is not only interfering in and impeding the church’s function, it is also disrespecting the millions of faithful.

“The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemns and expresses deep indignation at the fact that the Armenia’s Prosecutor’s Office has initiated criminal case against His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and has banned His Holiness from leaving Armenia,” a statement from Etchmiadzin said on Saturday.

Etchmiadzin rejected the charges, calling them “groundless” and politically motivated.

The authorities are hindering the pontifical activity of His Holiness, through this clearly unconstitutional and illegal effort to interfere in the internal life of the Church,” the statement said.

“These action also shows disrespect and contempt toward the millions of faithful and the centuries-old institution that has been and remains the unshakable pillar of Armenian statehood,” Etchmiadzin added.

“The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin calls for an immediate review of the illegal decisions made against the Armenian Catholicos, six bishops and the chancellor of the Supreme Spiritual Council, which are dividing our society and undermining the reputation and authority of our homeland,” Etchmiadzin demanded.