The Penitentiary Medical Center has proposed to organize the surgery indicated for Archbishop Michael. This is stated in the statement released by the team of defense of Archbishop Michael.
“As we have already reported, the issue of Archbishop Michael’s surgery at its own expense at the Izmirlyan Medical Center was raised in an application to the Penitentiary Service dated 07.10.2025. The Penitentiary Service forwarded the said application to the “Penitentiary Medical Center” SNCO.
At the same time, Archbishop Michael’s defense lawyer submitted a written application to the Penitentiary Medical Center on 29.10.2025, in response to which only on 28.11.2025. The director of the Center reported that Archbishop Michael refused free surgery.
Later, the Minister of Justice tried to explain this situation by the fact that the prescribed application was not submitted. Such applications were not considered to be the applications of the defenders of Archbishop Michael.
Moreover, since October 7, 2025, no official has clarified in writing for 2 months that certain formal requirements must be met, since only then will they take into account the right to health of the detainee.
According to this formal requirement, the detainee must submit a written application to the head of the medical department located in the penitentiary institution and also indicate the name, surname of the doctor of the civilian medical institution, the medical institution where the doctor works, and the latter’s contact details (phone number, e-mail address).
It is obvious that the detainee will have difficulty finding and submitting this information.
However, the defense team of Archbishop Michael again submitted an application to the “Penitentiary Medical Center” SNCO, submitting the following documents:
1) A copy of the Medical Center’s certificate dated 07.10.2025,
2) An extract from the medical history,
3) The result of the ultrasound examination,
4) A copy of the defense attorney’s application dated 07.10.2025,
5) A copy of the letter of the Head of the Penitentiary Service of the RA Ministry of Justice dated 14.10.2025,
6) A copy of the defense attorney’s application dated 29.10.2025,
7) A copy of the defense attorney’s application dated 06.11.2025,
8.) A copy of the defense attorney’s application dated 10.11.2025,
9) The SNCO’s application dated 28.11.2025 copy of the response,
10) Archbishop Michael’s consent dated 09.12.2025,
11) Doctors’ consent dated 09.12.2025,
12) Copy of the license,
13) Archbishop Michael’s power of attorney dated 09.12.2025.
In response to the aforementioned application, the Director of the “Penalty Medical Center” SNCO on 11.12.2025 reported that the application and documents had been forwarded to the Yerevan-Kentron subdivision and it was proposed to organize the surgical intervention indicated for Archbishop Michael.
Archbishop Michael’s defense team expresses gratitude to all concerned persons, including journalists.