The spiritual pastor of Hovhannavank, Father Aram Asatryan, was questioned as part of the criminal proceedings. The Investigative Committee told the media about this.
Let us recall that yesterday we reported that the “Union of Informed Citizens” NGO demanded to examine Father Aram’s statements about forcing him to participate in the rally.
On the air of the Public Television, Father Aram said that the head of the diocese forced him and other priests to participate in the opposition protests in 2021.
Let us also recall that in the early morning of October 15, law enforcement officers conducted a search of the house of the head of the Aragatsotn diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, and then detained him. In addition to the priest, 12 priests and employees of the prelate of the Aragatsotn diocese were also detained. Later, the Criminal Investigation Department reported that 3 people were arrested, one of whom is the head of the diocese. Public criminal prosecution was initiated against him under 2 articles of the Criminal Code: obstructing the exercise of electoral rights by using official position, and forcing participation in gatherings by using government or official powers.
Earlier, it became known that the head of the Aragatsotn diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, was detained for 2 months, and the head of the Aragatsotn diocese, Father Garegin Arsenyan, was detained for 1 month.