Father Aram Asatryan, the spiritual pastor of St. Hovhannavank, was questioned

As part of the criminal proceedings, the spiritual pastor of Hovhannavank, Father Aram Asatryan, was questioned.

Kima Avdalyan, spokesperson for the Investigative Committee, told Aysor.am .

Let us remind you that yesterday the National Security Service entered the Aragatsotn Diocese headquarters and conducted searches.

Priests and the head of the diocese were arrested.

Early this morning, it became known that the head of the diocese, Archbishop Mkrtich, was detained for two months, and the head of the diocese, Archbishop Karekin, was detained for one month.

The Investigative Committee reported that as a result of more than two dozen searches, documents of importance for criminal proceedings, media containing electronic information, particularly large amounts of money, a large amount of gold and silver jewelry, numerous fuel coupons issued in the name of a number of commercial organizations, and other items and objects were found and seized.

"Based on the facts obtained as a result of the large-scale investigative and procedural actions carried out, a public criminal prosecution was initiated against H.P. under Article 149, Part 2, Clause 4 of the Criminal Code adopted on 18.04.2003 (obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights by abusing official position), Article 236, Part 3 of the Criminal Code (using official or official powers or the influence derived therefrom to hinder or compel holding or participating in a gathering, as well as aiding in material interest in participating in a gathering or refusing to participate in a gathering), against A.A. under Article 46-236, Part 3 (using official or official powers or the influence derived therefrom to hinder or compel holding or participating in a gathering, as well as assisting in material interest in participating in a gathering or refusing to participate in a gathering) and against N.A. "Under Article 256, Part 2, Paragraphs 2 and 3 (embezzlement of entrusted property in large amounts by using official or official powers or the influence derived from them)," the Criminal Investigation Department noted.

The Investigative Committee initiated the proceedings based on a report by the "Union of Informed Citizens" NGO, which related to the statement made on Public TV by Father Aram Asatryan, the spiritual pastor of Hovhannavank. The priest had said that he participated in the 2021 opposition protests not of his own free will, but on the instructions of his superiors.